Erin Lamb Shines Against Tennessee Again

Many Kentucky followers would inform you that they don’t like Tennessee very a lot. However for Kentucky volleyball participant Erin Lamb, she loves Tennessee. Or, a minimum of she loves enjoying in opposition to them.

Lamb got here off the bench on Wednesday night time to spark the Cats to a four-set win over the Vols inside Memorial Coliseum. The sophomore had 9 kills and 4 errors on 18 swings (.278 hitting proportion). For Lamb, it was the very best variety of kills she has had in a match in over a month.

Final season at Tennessee, Lamb was referred to as on to start out for the injured Madi Skinner. Lamb not solely crammed the position, she excelled at it. She recorded 12 kills in three units, main the Cats to a shorthanded sweep of the Vols in Knoxville.

Coming into this yr’s match in opposition to the Vols, Lamb has been enjoying sparingly. In actual fact, in Kentucky’s 4 matches previous to Wednesday, Lamb had not performed in any respect.

However there’s one thing about that orange that brings out one of the best within the Stewartville, Minnesota native. Even Lamb struggles to elucidate it.

“I don’t know. I don’t actually have a solution,” Lamb mentioned after Wednesday’s match. “The orange? I don’t know. However a lot of enjoyable.”

In Wednesday’s match, Lamb was good in all three units wherein she performed, however she was excellent within the third set. In simply that set, she had seven kills and a solo block. For Lamb, it was simply profiting from the chance that was given to her.

“I’m simply going to remain proper for my subsequent alternative, every time that’s,” Lamb mentioned. “It’s enjoyable that Haley (Melby) and I can battle it out day-after-day in apply and simply make one another higher. Makes me higher, makes her higher. After which, day-after-day in apply stepping into, giving all of it I’ve for the opposite facet and dealing for my subsequent alternative as nicely.”

UK head coach Craig Skinner was not conscious that Lamb had seven kills in a set. He additionally was not shocked to see her excel when given an opportunity.

“Seven is lots,” Skinner mentioned. “However she has been training rather well so I knew she could be prepared when she received that subsequent likelihood.”

Skinner is aware of that the Southeastern Convention is way deeper this season, making each match a troublesome one. Wednesday’s win over Tennessee was no exception.

“All good wins on this league this yr,” Skinner mentioned. “You possibly can by no means get too comfy. Happy with the win. We nearly had 5 gamers in double digit kills and that’s uncommon. So, good offensive night time.”

Lamb might be an essential cog within the UK assault because the postseason approaches. Particularly if she imagines she’s enjoying in opposition to Tennessee.