Alabama
6-10,0-4SEC
Kentucky
8-5,3-1SEC
Alabama Volleyball Takes 18th-Ranked Kentucky to Four Sets but Falls Saturday
10/1/2022 5:12:00 PM | Volleyball
The Crimson Tide’s set three win was its first over the Wildcats since 2017
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After falling in the first two sets, Alabama volleyball avoided the sweep with a third set win over 18th-ranked Kentucky on the road Saturday, but the Wildcats closed out the match in the fourth to defeat the Crimson Tide, 3-1.
Neither Alabama (6-10, 0-4 SEC) or Kentucky (8-5, 3-1 SEC) could take more than a two-point lead in the first half of the opening set, but the Wildcats widened the gap in the second half en route to a 25-17 win to start the match. Kentucky led 8-5 in the second before the Tide rattled off four unanswered to take a 9-8 lead and force a Wildcat timeout. With Alabama up 11-9 three points later, Kentucky scored five in a row to retake the lead and ultimately held on to win the set, 25-18.
The Wildcats took a 6-2 lead in the third before the Tide fought back to move ahead 8-7. After four more lead changes, Alabama hit its stride and avoided the sweep with a 25-19 win in the third. The set win was the Tide's first against Kentucky since 2017. The Wildcats answered right back with a 25-13 win in the fourth to take the match however, 3-1.
Kendyl Reaugh led the team with 12 kills, pushing her current streak to six-straight matches with double-digit kills. Brooke Slusser tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 10 digs. Laila Smith stuffed a career-best seven blocks and Micah Gryniewicz also set a new season high with four.
Notes
- The third set win was Alabama's first over Kentucky since Nov. 8, 2017 in Tuscaloosa and its first in Lexington since earlier that season on Oct. 6, 2017
- Kendyl Reaugh led the team with 12 kills, extending her streak to six-straight matches with 10+ kills
- Brooke Slusser earned her sixth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 10 digs
- Laila Smith led the team with seven blocks, tying her previous career high set earlier this season against Central Arkansas (Sept. 3)
- Micah Gryniewicz stuffed a season-best four blocks and was one dig shy of her season high at 10
Stat Leaders
- Kills: Kendyl Reaugh - 12
- Assists: Brooke Slusser - 33
- Digs: Micah Gryniewicz, Brooke Slusser - 10
- Blocks: Laila Smith - 7
- Aces: Brooke Slusser - 2
Set-by-Set
- Set 1: Kentucky 25, Alabama 17
- Set 2: Kentucky 25, Alabama 18
- Set 3: Alabama 25, Kentucky 19
- Set 4: Kentucky 25, Alabama 13
Up Next: at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
- Friday, Oct. 7 – 7 p.m. CT – SEC Network
- Saturday, Oct. 8 – 4 p.m. CT
