Kentucky Volleyball is one step away from claiming its second NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. The Wildcats advanced to the 2025 national final after defeating Wisconsin in a five-set thriller in the national semifinals.
Kentucky faced early adversity, dropping the opening set 12-25, its worst first-set deficit since 2018. The Wildcats, however, regrouped and clawed back to win 25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 15-13, sealing their place in the final. After the match, senior Eva Hudson reflected on Kentucky’s slow start and how the team gradually settled in as the game progressed.
Eva Hudson Opens up on Kentucky Volleyball Finding Its Rhythm Against Wisconsin
Hudson, one of Kentucky’s standout performers with 29 kills on .455 hitting, addressed the team’s slow start during the post-match press conference. She acknowledged that the Wildcats lacked confidence and looked unsure in the opening set, but noted that this feeling eased as the match progressed.
As Kentucky settled into the second and third sets, the Wildcats began to find their footing. Hudson added that by the fourth and fifth sets, everything finally clicked, saying, “I just think we came out a little timid and not knowing what to do in the first set, and slowly found our rhythm in the second and third.
“But by the fourth and fifth um, we really we found that rhythm and I was just swinging away and knowing my people behind me were covering,” she added.
For her consistency this season, the outside hitter has also been named a finalist for the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year award. For Kentucky to claim its second title against a fired-up Texas A&M, which upset tournament favorite Nebraska and swept Pitt, Hudson will need to deliver a strong performance on Sunday.
MORE: Top Upsets of the NCAA Volleyball Championships 2025 ft. Nebraska Volleyball
It is worth noting that the much-anticipated game will take center stage at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City at 3:30 p.m. ET, airing on ABC.
Kentucky Star Hudson on the Emotions of Reaching the NCAA Championship Final
In a candid interview reflecting on Kentucky’s run to the NCAA finals, Hudson was still trying to process the moment. She admitted the emotions hadn’t fully caught up to her yet, describing a mix of shock and joy as the reality slowly set in.
In a post-match on-court interview, she said, “Honestly, just shocked right now. I can’t even have tears at this moment because I don’t even know what’s going on. But I’m just so happy to do it with this group.”
Before the decisive final set, Hudson delivered a message that underscored Kentucky’s confidence under pressure. “I just said, ‘No one wants to play us in the fifth set. That’s when the lights get bright and we play our best volleyball,’” a message that quickly translated into execution on the court.
Looking ahead to the final against Texas A&M, Hudson welcomed the challenge, pointing to their physical blocking and energy while expressing excitement about the matchup.
