The No. 3 seeded Kentucky volleyball team earned a dominant 3-0 sweep over Cleveland State (25-15, 25-14, 25-16) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky, with a 21-7 record and an impressive 14-2 SEC mark, came into the match with strong momentum after winning their eighth consecutive SEC championship. In the tournament opener, the Wildcats were in control from the start, with standout performances across both offense and defense. Kentucky held Cleveland State to a low .114 hitting percentage, while posting an efficient .391 team hitting percentage.
The match opened with Kentucky showing its strength in set one, starting with a 9-2 run. Brooklyn DeLeye led the charge, hitting three quick kills to set the tone early. Cleveland State attempted to rally, closing the gap to 13-10, but Kentucky responded with a 5-1 run, capped by a service ace from DeLeye. Kentucky continued to build its lead, finishing the set 25-15. The Wildcats’ offense was solid in the first set, with 18 kills and a .424 hitting percentage. DeLeye and Erin Lamb were key contributors, with Lamb also adding two blocks.
Set two began closely, with the teams exchanging leads early on. However, Kentucky broke open the set with a 7-1 run after Cleveland State briefly tied the score at 7-7. This forced Cleveland State to use both of its timeouts as Kentucky extended its lead to 17-10. Kentucky’s offense continued to shine, hitting .419 in the set, with DeLeye contributing six kills. The Wildcats finished set two strong, with Lamb clinching the set 25-14 following a kill. Meanwhile, Cleveland State struggled, managing just nine kills and a .088 hitting percentage.
The third set saw Kentucky jump out to a quick 5-0 lead, largely due to Cleveland State’s errors. The Vikings briefly fought back but were unable to recover as Kentucky maintained a dominant position. After a series of rallies, Kentucky reached match point at 24-16, with Lamb contributing a kill. A block from Jordyn Dailey and Megan Wilson sealed the set 25-16, completing the sweep. DeLeye finished the match with 15 kills and three service aces, while Lamb added 10 kills and a .444 hitting percentage. Setter Emma Grome had a strong performance as well, recording 33 assists.
With this win, Kentucky advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face No. 6 seed Minnesota. The match will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky’s balanced offensive attack, along with a strong defensive showing, has made them a formidable team in the tournament, and they look to continue their postseason journey as they face Minnesota in the next round. Coach Craig Skinner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting their ability to execute on both sides of the ball.
