Make it 16 Straight Wins for SEC Champion Kentucky

Senior Elise Goetzinger hugs her parents during Senior Day ceremonies Saturday before she helped the Cats sweep Florida. (Larry Vaught Photo)

For a team that was 3-7 after getting swept at home by Tennessee, Kentucky volleyball somehow did the unthinkable and turned a suspect season into a seventh straight Southeastern Conference championship.

Kentucky swept No. 20 Florida 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 Saturday in front of 4,091 fans at Rupp Arena just three days after it also won at No. 9 Arkansas in a sweep. That left UK 17-1 in SEC play and two games in front of Tennessee and Arkansas at 15-3.

Kentucky got 15 kills from senior Reagan Rutherford and another balanced team effort to win its 16th straight match, the longest win streak in the nation.

“Give the players credit. We played a really strong schedule but they never panicked. We learned from it, got better, and then got on a roll,” said UK coach Craig Skinner. “I am very proud of this team and we are playing with a lot of confidence now.”

Kentucky controlled Saturday’s match from the start. The Cats hit .266 and held the Gators to .196 hitting thanks in part to five blocks by Tealer. Rutherford also had four blocks.

Emma Grome, the 2022 SEC player of the year, leads the nation in assists with 12 per set and was right on that mark with 37 Saturday on UK’s 45 kills.  Eleanor Beavin led the team in digs with 13.

Erin Lamb continued her recent impressive play with 11 kills. Freshman Brooklyn DeLeye had nine kills and 10 digs.

Kentucky players got to celebrate after the win with a confetti shower that covered the court and allowed them to do “confetti angels” and slide headfirst through the confetti.

“It’s just fun,” Lamb said. “We are still just kids at heart and Craig likes us to have fun.”

Kentucky (19-7) will find out its NCAA Tournament placement on Sunday during the NCAA selection show on ESPN at 6 p.m. with Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Katie George hosting.

The Cats should be a sub-regional host for first- and second-round games at Rupp Arena. With Kentucky having a home men’s basketball game on Saturday, that should mean UK will host matches on Thursday and Friday.