Kentucky defeats Texas to win NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament

The Kentucky Wildcats are NCAA volleyball national champions.

The No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Kentucky dropped the first set, then roared back to beat the No. 4 seed Texas Longhorns 3-1 to claim the program’s first national championship.

Sophomore outside hitter Alli Stumler recorded 26 kills and senior setter Madison Lilley, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, was credited with 53 assists and 19 digs as UK became the first SEC program to win a women’s volleyball title, knocking off the Longhorns 20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22.

“Their better was better than ours tonight,” Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said afterward. “Kentucky was just that good.”

“Really, so much credit to Texas,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “I know coaches say at the beginning of this thing, but Texas hit .330 and we hit .350. Just an incredible match.”

And an incredible accomplishment for Skinner, the former Nebraska assistant who took over as UK head coach in 2005 and has led the Wildcats to 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. After just once reaching the Elite Eight (2017), UK finally broke through to the Final Four for the first time this season, winning its first three tournament matches in straight sets before knocking off No. 6 seed Washington 3-1 in Thursday night’s national semifinals.

The Cats (24-1) got off to a slow start Saturday. Texas (27-2) broke UK’s streak of winning the first set in 20 straight matches by triumphing 25-20 in the initial set. The Longhorns dominated with a hit percentage of .455 to just .216 for UK. The Cats had 15 kills in the first set, but they committed seven errors.

“Texas was really good in that first set. They hit .455,” Skinner said. “We just stayed the course. I had told the team I didn’t know how you are going to start but I know you’re going to fight to the bitter end.”

And Kentucky bounced back to win the second set 25-18. Stumler and the Skinner sisters, Avery and Madi, came up big to tie the match at a set apiece.

“We were just confident we were going to win this game,” Stumler said of the comeback. “We had confidence in our skill and athleticism. We felt like if any team was going to win it for this program, it was going to be this team.”

Kentucky took a 2-1 lead in sets by claiming the third set 25-23. The Wildcats had a .429 hit percentage in the third set. Stumler finished the third set with 18 kills. And Gabby Curry, UK’s senior libero, came up bit in the third set with several key digs and saves. Curry finished with 14 digs for the Cats, who ended the season 24-1.

“Nothing fazes Gabby, never has,” Skinner said.

“I think we hit .417 in set three and still didn’t win,” Elliott said of the Longhorns’ hitting percentage. “There’s a reason they’re the best offensive team in the country.”

After falling behind 6-1 early in the fourth set, Kentucky rallied to clinch the title. A Madi Skinner kill put Kentucky up 22-21. Texas mishandled a Riah Walker serve to put UK ahead 23-21. After Texas cut UK’s lead to 24-23, a kill by Stumler gave Kentucky the final point it needed.

“I know everybody talks about our offense,” Skinner said afterward, “but it really was our defense that won it in that fourth set.”

It was Texas’ fourth trip to the championship match since 2012, the last time the Longhorns won the title. Texas also was also the tournament’s runner-up in 2015 and 2016.

“I really can’t hang my head on anything,” Elliott said. “Kentucky was just that good.”

So good the Wildcats are national champions.

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