Kentucky VB Closes Non-Conference Play with Sweep Over Washington

No. 6 Kentucky volleyball took down Washington 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21) on Saturday in Memorial Coliseum, marking the end of nonconference play.

Senior outside hitter Eva Hudson recorded a school record with 28 kills, helping lead the Wildcats to a straight-set sweep against the Huskies.

“I knew our team needed something to get going,” said Hudson. “I knew I could do it.”

Hudson’s 28 kills broke the record for the most kills ever by a Wildcat in a three-set match. She surpassed Leah Edmond, who held the record before her at 22 in 2018. It also marked the first time an NCAA Volleyball player put up 28 or more kills in a three-set match since Jordan Thompson at Cincinnati in 2019. Hudson ended the day with only three errors on 52 swings, hitting .481 while adding eight digs and 14 serves without a reception error.

Closing out non-conference play with a 🧹#WeAreUK x #BBN pic.twitter.com/54NiT5kAGX

— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) September 20, 2025

Washington led most of the way during the first set, taking a convincing 20-14 lead. Instead of folding under pressure, the Cats rallied with a 7-1 run to make it 22-21. Huge kills by Brooklyn DeLeye and Hudson down the stretch led Kentucky to a 25-23 victory.

Set two went similarly, with the Huskies once again getting off to a hot start. Washington held the lead at 23-20 late, but Kentucky found its rhythm again to answer. Brooke Bultema and Kennedy Washington tallying a huge double block, along with a kill from DeLeye, kept the set alive. Washington forced extra points, but two monster swings from DeLeye and Hudson closed out set two in favor of the Cats, 27-25.

Washington hit the ground running with a 4-0 run to open set three. After tying it at 10, Kentucky’s Ava Sarafa helped lead the way, posting 13 assists. With the Cats hitting .311, coupled with Hudson’s powerful kills, a 5-0 run helped them to a 25-21 sweep.

After coming off an emotional win against their rival, Louisville, the Wildcats proved they can sustain their momentum to polish off another win.

“For us, it’s about learning what urgency means,” said Brooke Bultema.” “It’s not being panicky, it’s not being fearful, it’s being intentional, it’s about getting the team to play to our speed.”

Kentucky (7-2) finishes out nonconference play with only two losses after facing five top-25 teams. The Wildcats will kick off SEC play Wednesday at 7 p.m. (SEC Network) against South Carolina at home, just the beginning of another challenging road ahead.