No. 3 Kentucky Volleyball makes history at Wrigley Field with 3-1 victory over No. 13 Penn State

CHICAGO, IL. (WKYT) - Outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye recorded 21 kills as No. 3 Kentucky defeated No. 13 Penn State 3-1 on Sunday night in the first-ever collegiate volleyball match played at historic Wrigley Field.

The Wildcats (5-1) claimed the historic victory under the lights, taking the first two sets before Penn State rallied in the third. Kentucky answered with a dominant fourth set to close out the match, 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-15.

The match was the opening leg of a historic outdoor doubleheader in the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge, which also featured No. 1 Nebraska against Missouri.

Playing outdoors in the legendary Major League Baseball stadium presented early challenges as both teams fought to adjust to 11 mph winds blowing off Lake Michigan. The opening set saw 10 ties and four lead changes, with four of the first 10 points decided by errors.

With Kentucky trailing 22-21 in the first frame, Wildcats head coach Craig Skinner called a critical timeout. Out of the break, Kentucky rallied to score four of the final five points, capped by consecutive kills from DeLeye on assists from Kassie O’Brien to secure the set 25-23.

The Wildcats carried that momentum into the second set, utilizing a highly efficient offense that improved its hitting percentage to .462. Kentucky took a late five-point lead before Notre Dame transfer Morgan Gaerte delivered the set-winning kill to take the frame 25-21.

Penn State (3-1) refused to go quietly. The Nittany Lions jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the third set. Though Kentucky battled back to lead 15-13 at the media timeout, Penn State engineered a late 6-1 run. The Nittany Lions fought off a late Kentucky push, using a set-point kill from Ryla Jones to take the frame 25-23 and avoid the sweep.

Under the ballpark lights in the fourth set, Kentucky’s defense asserted itself. The Wildcats utilized a decisive 9-1 scoring run to blow the frame open. Gaerte and middle blocker Lizzie Carr anchored the net with six blocks apiece, while Kennedy Washington added five.

O’Brien orchestrated the offense with 48 assists, guiding three Wildcats into double-digit kills: DeLeye (21), Gaerte (15), and Asia Thigpen (11). Defensively, libero Molly Tuozzo paced the back row with 19 digs to keep the Nittany Lions out of system.

The Wildcats are back at home Wednesday night, hosting North Carolina in the ACC-SEC Challenge at 6:00 P.M. on the SEC Network.