In a bold approach to scheduling, Kentucky volleyball coach Craig Skinner has crafted what may be one of the most challenging non-conference slates in college sports history. Over a grueling 19-day stretch from August 31 to September 18, his No. 7-ranked Wildcats will face the top four teams in the nation: No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Pittsburgh, and No. 4 Louisville. This gauntlet also includes a match against No. 10 SMU, meaning Kentucky will have played half of the preseason top ten within the season’s first three weeks.
Skinner admits that a decade or more ago, he would never have attempted such a formidable schedule. However, he believes the program’s elevated status demands this level of competition. He explained that while the annual rivalry game with Louisville was fixed and a return game at Penn State was owed, the high-profile neutral-site matches against Nebraska and Pitt came through invitations for conference challenges.
Since leading Kentucky to the NCAA championship in 2020, Skinner has intentionally loaded the team’s non-conference schedule with elite opponents. Although the Wildcats are 0-14 in their last 14 top-10 non-conference matches, the coach staunchly defends the strategy. He asserts that facing such intense pressure—from the atmosphere, serving, and attacking—is invaluable preparation that cannot be replicated in practice. These experiences, he says, have been crucial to the team’s run of eight consecutive SEC regular-season championships.
This season, Skinner has a roster capable of meeting this challenge, led by National Player of the Year candidate Brooklyn DeLeye and incoming Purdue transfer Eva Hudson, a first-team All-America caliber player. The two outside hitters will be on the court simultaneously, creating a formidable offensive threat from both the front and back rows.
The primary question mark is at the setter position, where the Wildcats must replace an All-American. A competition between redshirt sophomore Ava Sarafa and freshman Kassie O’Brien is underway, with Skinner expected to name a starter soon.
This schedule is uniquely difficult; none of the other top-ranked teams are playing more than two of the preseason top four. Skinner embraces the challenge, stating, “It’s time to put up or shut up,” viewing it as the ultimate test to prepare his team for a deep postseason run.
