2/28 Practice Notes: Cats Prepping for Spring Schedule as Hudson and the Rest of the New Wildcats Shine on the Practice Court

With the calendar ready to turn to March, we're officially just 13 days away from the start of the spring season for the Kentucky volleyball team, as the program announced its four-game spring schedule earlier this week, beginning with a clash against the Dayton Flyers on March 13th. And as the Cats continue to prepare for game action, news out of the practice gym is as exciting as ever. 

As expected, it's taken no time for senior transfer Eva Hudson to fit in down in Lexington. The former Boilermaker is already wowing coaches in practice and has looked incredibly strong opposite her counterpart in Brooklyn DeLeye. Obviously there's plenty of time for things to change before the fall but, unsurprisingly, according to assistant coach Merideth Jewell the Cats are indeed expecting that Hudson and Brooklyn will both play six rotations for the Cats when they take the court. 

While this certainly shouldn't come as a shock given how talented each of these hitters are, it's been a while since Kentucky has had two outside hitters play all the way around for Craig Skinner and company. While the Cats have experimented with it at times over the last several years, the last time Kentucky fans saw it with regularity was when two outside hitters by the names of Leah Edmond and Alli Stumler were playing for the blue and white. Those names ring a bell? 

Starting in Stumler's freshman campaign back in 2018, Edmond and Stumler terrorized the SEC as one of the most dynamic one-two outside hitter combinations in the country. One of their most famous teamups came in a five set victory over then-No. 11 Florida as the pair combined for a whopping 57 of the team's 78 total kills. 

So why does this matter? Well, for one thing, having two outside hitters playing six rotations means that the bic attack, a powerful swing out of the back row, will always be available. And especially when opposing defenses overload the block to the left pin in an effort to stop the swing of either Brooklyn or Eva in the front row, having the other as an option out of the back row is an incredibly difficult weapon to stop. Considering the fact that Kentucky has already boasted one of the most efficient and dynamic offenses in the country over the last several years, that trend should continue, and hopefully even improve, heading into the fall. 

The staff has also been impressed with Hudson's arm swing, citing her ability to mix up her attacks and incorporate some sharp kills into area four as a valuable asset to the team's offensive schemes. Right now they're simply trying to get her acclimated to the team's terminology and playing style before fully unleashing her on more of their complex offensive routes, but expect to see her run some of those in the fall the way we've seen Brooklyn running throughout her young career. 

Also of note, defensive specialists Molly Berezowitz and Trinity Ward appear to be fitting in incredibly well for the Cats in the back row. Jewell noted that Ward's athleticism has immediately jumped out at them and Berezowitz's competitive fire is fitting in well alongside Tuozzo. Sounds like Kentucky is going to be a beast not only on the offensive end, but the defensive end as well.

As the spring schedule approaches, the Cats are excited to take the court against some new competition and show off a bunch of new talent that's made its way to Lexington in the offseason. And if early reports are any indication, it sounds like Kentucky fans have a lot to be excited about.