No. 13 Kentucky volleyball won in four sets against an 8-13 South Carolina team on Friday at the Carolina Volleyball Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
It was a team win as multiple Wildcats had strong showings. The win extended Kentucky’s win streak to nine matches and kept it in first in the SEC with a record of 10-1 in conference play.
Kentucky had three players with double-digit kills versus South Carolina, all being led by freshman Brooklyn DeLeye with 15. Azhani Tealer added 13 kills and Reagan Rutherford added 10 herself.
South Carolina started the first set by winning the first two points, but after a Rutherford kill tied things at three South Carolina never had another lead. Kentucky dominated the first set after the slow start, winning 25-17.
Set two was full of big runs for both teams. South Carolina had two three-point runs, taking an early lead, 7-4. After that, both teams went back and forth. The score was 15-13 South Carolina going into the media timeout and, after the time out, Kentucky went on a 12-2 run to close out the set 25-17.
Going into set three the Wildcats were trying to get their fourth sweep in their last five games, but South Carolina dominated the set with Kentucky not having the lead for even one point. South Carolina stayed alive, winning the third set 25-18.
Kentucky started the fourth set on a 4-0 run and never looked back. South Carolina made things close, getting the score to 9-7, but that was followed by a 6-1 run from Kentucky. Kentucky won the fourth set 25-15, winning the match 3-1.
Kentucky will continue its road trip as the Cats travel to Gainesville, Florida, where they will take on No. 20 Florida, which will try and bounce back after losing two straight at 3 p.m. ET.