Kentucky players celebrated after winning the third set against Stanford. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Playing at No. 2 Wisconsin and then No. 5 Louisville before returning home to host No. 16 Stanford in just over a week hopefully has Kentucky battle-tested for the start of Southeastern Conference play this week. The Cats lost in three sets at Wisconsin before dropping a five-set match against the Cardinals. However, Sunday at Memorial Coliseum the defending national champion got a five-set win over Stanford and a needed boost of confidence.
“It has definitely been great playing a lot of top teams right away and has been a challenge,” said freshman setter Emma Grome, who had 58 assists against Stanford, said. “It helped us grow up a lot.”
Azhani Tealer said the young Cats have had to learn what it takes to win tough matches and playing at Wisconsin and Louisville were both learning lessons that helped UK win Sunday.
“We knew they were a huge team but I don’t think we were intimidated. We are athletic and fast,” Tealer said. “I think we enjoy playing at a high level.”
Coach Craig Skinner saw growth in a lot of areas against Stanford, especially after UK got outplayed in the first set.
“Compared to August 8 (when UK started practice), it is night and day (different),” Skinner said. “We did a good job.”
He was especially pleased that UK continued to attack in set five after letting a lead slip away in set four when the Cats could have closed the match.
Skinner didn’t want to overplay the need for a win over a ranked team to add to his team’s confidence but he also wouldn’t deny what it could mean.
“When what you work on works, it adds to your belief,” Skinner said. “Finishing the job adds belief. They (Stanford) will be in the top 10 by the end of the year. For us to perform and do things we have been training to do adds to your belief and confidence.”
Skinner said the team’s biggest improvement Sunday was the ability for players to maintain their composure and move on to the next point.
“Wisconsin and Louisville, sometimes we were too concerned individually with how we were playing and not ready for the next point,” Skinner said. “You can’t help what happened the last point.”
Kentucky (7-3) opens Southeastern Conference play Friday at 8 p.m. when it hosts Missouri. The game will be on the SEC Network, ESPN3, and the ESPN app. It will be the first of 18 SEC games for UK, which has won the last four SEC regular-season titles.
“I am as excited because I see so many things we have improved on and where we can be a month from now and at the end of the season,” Skinner said.
