The streak is over. For fifteen long years, the University of Louisville has held bragging rights over Kentucky in their intense volleyball rivalry. On Thursday night, in front of nearly 11,000 fans at the KFC Yum! Center, that streak came to a crashing, emphatic end. L's down.
The #6 ranked Kentucky Wildcats stormed into enemy territory and knocked off the #3 ranked Louisville Cardinals in a wild, five-set instant classic (21-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-12, 15-7), securing their first victory in the series since 2009.
A battle of resilience
The victory was a testament to the Wildcats' mental fortitude. After dropping the first set and falling behind 2-1 after a heartbreaking 26-24 loss in the third, a lesser team might have folded. But the gauntlet that Craig Skinner scheduled for his team came through again. Kentucky responded with utter domination. They crushed the Cardinals 25-12 in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth.
The statistical turnaround was staggering. In the final two sets, Kentucky's offense found a new gear, hitting a combined .404 while holding Louisville to a minuscule .018 hitting percentage. The Wildcats seized control and never looked back. They dominated the latter stages of this game.
Stepping up in the biggest moments
🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵#WeAreUK x #BBN pic.twitter.com/NdDt4NW3lm
— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) September 19, 2025
In the fifth and final set, Kentucky raced out to a 4-0 lead and built an insurmountable 8-2 advantage at the changeover. The Cardinals looked stunned, with no answer for the relentless Wildcat attack. Superstar Brooklyn DeLeye was sensational all night, leading the charge with a match-high 24 kills, while Brooke Bultema was a force at the net with 8 blocks.
As Eva Hudson's final kill hit the floor to seal the 15-7 victory, it capped one of the most significant and cathartic wins in recent program history. The curse has been broken, and the bragging rights are finally back in Lexington.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion