![Kentucky Wildcats head coach Craig Skinner looks on during the third set against the Florida Gators at Exactech Arena at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, November 20, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Women S Volleyball Florida Vs Kentucky](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_304,w_2918,h_1641/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/198/01ka8gdz28wfk8tnemk3.jpg "Kentucky Wildcats head coach Craig Skinner looks on during the third set against the Florida Gators at Exactech Arena at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, November 20, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Women S Volleyball Florida Vs Kentucky")
Kentucky volleyball continues to do things that almost no other program in the country can match. With a dominant sweep over Arkansas at Historic Memorial Coliseum, the Wildcats secured their ninth straight SEC championship, extending a dynasty that shows no signs of slowing.
It wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t a lucky season.
This has become a machine built on culture, talent, and relentless consistency. The title-clinching win marks Kentucky’s 19th consecutive victory, a run powered by players who understand the legacy they’re protecting, and expanding.
Senior Eva Hudson didn’t mince words:
“It’s such a legacy to live up to, and I’m proud of these girls for gritting it out. The pressure is an honor.”
Junior Brooklyn DeLeye echoed the same sentiment:
“We’ve had so much grit all season. Early on, we didn’t even know if this was possible. Now it feels surreal.”
Craig Skinner: The architect of sustained excellence
Head coach Craig Skinner has built Kentucky volleyball into a national powerhouse through a clear formula: recruit players who embrace expectations, develop them relentlessly, and maintain a culture that demands greatness without ego.
“We recruit players who understand expectations,” Skinner said. “The culture brings out the best in each other. It’s not about me — it’s about us.”
That culture is felt by everyone.
“Coming into a program with eight straight SEC titles, the pressure is real. But I’ve learned to use it as a privilege,” said freshman setter Kassie O’Brien.
With the regular-season title secured, Kentucky now turns to the SEC Tournament in Savannah, Georgia. The Wildcats will be a favorite not just to win the conference tournament, but to make another deep NCAA run. The dynasty isn’t just intact, it’s evolving.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion