As Kentucky’s volleyball team prepares to face Missouri in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals, head coach Craig Skinner remains cautious. Despite defeating Missouri twice during the regular season, Skinner understands the challenges of facing a familiar Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent in a high-stakes match.
The Wildcats will take on the Tigers today at 1 p.m. in Pittsburgh, with the game airing on ESPN2. Kentucky swept Missouri in Lexington on October 6 and clinched the SEC championship with a 3-1 victory in Columbia on November 27. During those matches, SEC Player of the Year Brooklyn DeLeye made her mark, recording a combined 31 kills.
Yet, past experience warns against overconfidence. Last season, Kentucky defeated Arkansas twice in the regular season but fell to the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16. Skinner acknowledges this reality, emphasizing that playing a team theyโve already beaten twice isnโt necessarily an advantage.
โThe benefit is that you know each other well, so surprises are minimal,โ Skinner said earlier this week. โBut I wouldnโt say thereโs a disadvantage, except for perhaps the psychological aspect or someoneโs perception. At this stage of the tournament, every match is going to be a battle.โ
Kentucky advanced to the regional semifinals after a dominant weekend, defeating Cleveland State and Minnesota. Meanwhile, Missouri earned its spot by upsetting SMU on the Mustangsโ home court in Dallas, a team Kentucky had swept earlier this season.
Skinner was quick to praise Missouriโs performance. โTheyโve been playing incredibly well. Winning at SMU in less than five sets speaks volumes about their capabilities,โ he said. โMissouri has proven they can compete with the best, and theyโre playing as well as anyone in the country right now.โ
Kentuckyโs own journey to the Sweet 16 showcases their grit and consistency. The Wildcats have won 13 consecutive matches, dropping only four sets since October 16. Their victory over Minnesota highlighted their resilience, particularly after losing a second set they had initially controlled.
โMinnesota is a team thatโs beaten top-10 opponents this year, so we knew it would be a tough match,โ Skinner noted. โI was proud of how we bounced back after giving away the second set. Grinding out tough points in the fourth set showed our mental toughness, which is crucial because weโll face similar pressure situations against Missouri.โ
Missouriโs ability to rise to the occasion makes them a formidable opponent. โTheyโre capable of beating anybody,โ Skinner stressed. โThe more youโve been in those pressure situations, the more opportunities you have to prove your strength.โ
The Wildcats are seeking to return to the Elite Eight for the first time since winning the national championship in 2020. A victory today would set up a likely showdown against host Pittsburgh, which faces Oregon, in the regional final on Saturday. The winner of that match will earn a coveted spot in the Final Four, set to take place in Louisville.
As Skinner and his team prepare, theyโre focused on maintaining their momentum and continuing their strong play. But Skinner is under no illusions. Facing Missouri, a team playing with confidence and determination, will demand Kentuckyโs best effort to keep their championship aspirations alive.