On Friday, Aug. 28, the No. 3 seeded Kentucky Volleyball team swept Utah State at Historic Memorial Coliseum, getting a win in the home opener and improving to 2-1 on the season.

The Wildcats came in hot with an immediate side-out to secure the first point of the match, with a tool from the 6-foot-2 senior Brooklyn DeLeye. However, the outside hitter didn’t stop there, finishing with 16 kills in the match.

Dominating the court, the home opener also included the unveiling of the 2025 national runner-up banner and the recognition of senior Libero Molly Tuozzo for achieving 100 career aces. Tuozzo added another record to that list during this home opener, getting her 1,000th career digs on Friday night.

After the first set, Kentucky led 1-0. The Wildcats did not allow Utah State to win two consecutive points at any time during the match, making for a 100% side-out rate.

The Cats continued their momentum into the second set, winning 25-14 and pushing a 5-0 scoring run.

Kentucky’s powerhouse roster and hungry mindset after losing to No. 4 Pitt (1-3) about a week ago created an electric environment at HMC. There is nothing quite like the first kill of the year, and the Wildcats had 43 more to prove it.

Not out of the woods yet, the Wildcats allowed Utah State to creep up on the scoreboard.

Craig Skinner’s team had to dig deep in the third set when the Aggies were down by only one (17-16). However, the girls all worked together to create space and assert another scoring run.

Deleye helped create the gap with a kill, taking a three-point lead, and two consecutive monster blocks from middle blocker Kennedy Washington and serious service pressure from sophomore Trinity Ward helped the Wildcats go on an 8-1 closing run, securing the dub in their legendary home opener.

The team’s fast-paced energy and ability to turn quick removed any chance of contest.

This is only the third time Utah State and Kentucky have played each other. In the 1978 and 1979 AIAW tournaments, the Aggies won both matches, but last night’s win reversed a 47-year-old head-to-head disadvantage.

Kentucky starting strong and with a fast tempo will help it maintain energy for the upcoming meeting against South Florida on Saturday, Aug. 29. And better yet, the Wildcats play Louisville on Sept. 20 in Lexington, and from this performance, we can tell they are already preparing.

While all things are pointing upward for the 2026-2027 season, do they have the stamina required to turn this season into a historic run and return to the national championship?

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Kenny Brooks announced that his team will kick off the season against Morehead State on Monday, Nov. 2, serving as both the home and season opener.

The Wildcats hold a 34-4 all-time record against the Eagles, losing only one game at home dating back to 1976. Kentucky has won 17 straight, with Brooks adding on to the streak with a 75-59 win last season.

This will be the second consecutive year that the lady cats open up with Morehead State, a tradition that fans across the bluegrass certainly wouldn’t mind continuing.

Believe it or not, the season is only 76 days away, and it feels like sooner rather than later that Historic Memorial Coliseum will be back packed to the ceiling with eager fans. The third year of the Brooks era is almost here, and with possibly his best team yet, a win over an in-state team could be the kickstart to a historic season.

As it stands, Kentucky has a month-long gap in the schedule, with the SEC/ACC challenge on Thursday, Dec. 3 vs. Clemson being the next confirmed game. Sources confirm that more non-conference matchups will be announced in the coming days, with TV channels and tip times to be released soon as well.

Nick Mingione and the Bat Cats not only have an exciting transfer class coming in, but the veteran coach is beginning to bring in recruits for the 2028 season, starting with Jaxson White.

White is the No. 1 ranked player in Kentucky, playing out of Owensboro Catholic High School as a left-handed pitcher and an outfielder. He is a top 150 overall recruit in the 2028 class.

The dual-position prospect hit .364 during the 2025-26 season according to MaxPreps, bringing in 15 RBIs. He’s appeared in over a dozen games on the mound, holding his opponents to a .230 batting average and maintaining a solid ERA.

He took to social media on Monday, Aug. 17, sharing his feelings after the commitment.

“I am extremely blessed and excited to announce that I have committed to the University of Kentucky to continue my academic and baseball career! Playing college baseball has always been a goal of mine, but being a Wildcat and playing for my home state has been a childhood dream.”

It will be a long time before the future Wildcat sets foot on campus, but rest assured, this is a player you should keep your eyes on when the spring rolls around.