Kentucky volleyball rallies past Texas for SEC Tournament title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- No. 1 seed Kentucky volleyball completed a reverse sweep Tuesday night over No. 3 seed Texas to win the SEC Volleyball Tournament.

The Wildcats, after also winning the regular season title, secured the SEC's automatic qualifying spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament that begins next week.

Texas was up two sets to none and leading 24-21 in the third, but Kentucky won six of the next seven points to claim the set.

“It said a lot to us as a staff in that third set to be able to pull that out,” UK coach Craig Skinner said. “The guts, the grit, the toughness, the resiliency of our team to come back from 7-2, with three match points for Texas, to be able to win that third set was massive. Anything worthy in life is earned, and these guys earned every bit of it.”

Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford

In the following two sets, Kentucky only trailed for two points as the Wildcats completed their second reverse sweep in the last two weeks.

“It’s so special. I just love this team so much,” junior libero Molly Tuozzo said. “We just have such a special bond. I’m just excited to celebrate with them.”

Tuozzo was named the tournament's most valuable player. With the win, the Wildcats remain unbeaten against SEC opponents this season.

“It’s a special team,” Skinner said. “I can’t tell you how hard it is to go undefeated in conference with so many different variables coming at you every single day. But this team came to work every single day and gave themselves to each other, and that’s a special bond that these guys will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Before winning the SEC Tournament, Kentucky was projected as the No. 2 overall seed in ESPN's NCAA Tournament bracketology. Louisville was projected as a No. 3 seed by ESPN.

The full 64-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced Sunday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.