After Kentucky’s wild five set comeback over Wisconsin, Eva Hudson summed up the Wildcats’ identity in one line that should send a shiver through every opponent still left standing.
“No one wants to play us in a fifth set. That’s when the lights get bright, and we play our best volleyball.”
Kentucky Volleyball’s 'lights get bright' mentality meets Texas A&M’s firepower
You do not say that unless you believe it with your whole chest, and this Kentucky team plays like it. The Cats have ripped off 27 straight wins, swept the SEC regular season and tournament titles, and just stared down a Badgers squad that punched them in the mouth 25 to 12 in the opening set.
Instead of folding, Kentucky settled in, leaned on its depth and defense, and turned the match into exactly the kind of late night, high leverage brawl they crave. The numbers back it up. Behind Hudson, Brooklyn DeLeye, Lizzie Carr, Kassie O’Brien and the rest of the core, Kentucky’s attack percentage sits just under .300 on the season with more than 1,700 kills. They average almost 15 kills per set, dig everything in sight and block at a 2.4 per set clip.
Now they get Texas A&M with everything on the line. The Aggies are no strangers to firepower. Logan Lednicky and Kyndal Stowers lead an offense hitting just under .300 with more than 1,600 kills of their own. A&M brings real balance, with multiple attackers over 300 kills, a strong middle presence in Morgan Perkins and Ifenna Cos Okpalla, and a block that lives near 2.6 per set.
Kentucky already went into Reed Arena back in October and handled business in four sets, turning that match with a suffocating third set where the Aggies hit just .067. That night, Hudson hammered 24 kills, DeLeye added 19, and the Cats’ serve and block slowly squeezed the life out of the Aggies’ side out rhythm.
This time, there is no “we will see them again in March” safety net. It is simple. Win and you raise a national title. Lose and the 27 match heater ends one step short, as does your season.
If you believe Hudson, that kind of pressure is not a problem. It is the point.
Kentucky and Texas A&M play for the national title on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC in Kansas City, Missouri.
How to watch the Volleyabll NCAA National Title game between Kentucky and Texas A&M
🗓️ Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
🕐 Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
📺 TV: ABC
📍 T Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
📱 Streaming: Hulu + Live TV,YouTube TV,FuboTV,Sling TV (Orange Plan), over-the-air if you leave close to a local ABC affiliate.