Volleyball can be all fun and games, literally! At least that’s how the Kentucky Wildcats’ 2024 NCAA Championship is turning out to be. On December 12 at Pittsburgh, Craig Skinner’s girls bagged their 14th straight victory on their winning streak, which started on Oct. 16, and how! A 3-1 sweep over Missouri proved that Kentucky is not kidding around about winning its second national title. But one Wildcat senior is making fans believe she might have a career even if volleyball doesn’t work out.

With a season-highest 13 kills and 9 digs, senior outside hitter Megan Wilson has been a driving force behind Kentucky’s victory that secured the team’s spot in the Elite Eight of this year’s NCAA tournament. However, it was her stellar heading defense in the second set that enthralled the fans the most tonight. And they can’t stop gushing about it.

A post by the official NCAA Women’s Volleyball from December 12 highlights the incredible moment that made the Fitzgerald Field House stand in awe. Captioned, “OFF HER HEAD,” the post shared the jaw-dropping moment at Fitzgerald Field House during Kentucky’s Regional Semifinal showdown. In what can only be described as a freakishly cool play, Megan Wilson used her head—literally—to keep the ball alive, setting up Brooklyn DeLeye for a kill that gave Kentucky a 12-8 lead. Fans joked that Team USA soccer might want to keep an eye on Wilson’s “header skills” for future call-ups!

Wilson’s clutch moves and DeLeye’s sharp attacking helped Kentucky dominate the second set, with DeLeye logging her 11th kill to push the Wildcats to a commanding 19-11 lead. Mizzou fought back with a fiery 4-0 run, but DeLeye’s 12th kill slammed the door on the set, giving Kentucky a 2-0 match lead. By the end of two sets, the Wildcats were hitting a scorching .368 compared to Mizzou’s .250.

Set Three was all Mizzou early, as the Tigers unleashed an 8-0 run to take a massive 13-4 lead—Kentucky’s largest deficit of the afternoon. Despite a kill by Asia Thigpen to stop the bleeding, the Wildcats couldn’t recover and dropped the set 25-xx. Kentucky came roaring back in Set Four, with Brooklyn DeLeye leading the charge with three early kills and Eleanor Beavin bringing the heat with her serves. The Wildcats stretched their lead to 19-10 after a challenge went their way and Jordyn Dailey delivered a monster block.

Mizzou called its final timeout, but it was too little, too late. A block by Brooke Bultema and DeLeye sealed the deal, punching Kentucky’s ticket to the Elite Eight. Fans can’t stop replaying the viral header moment, but Wilson and the Wildcats are laser-focused on their next challenge.

The Kentucky Wildcats will be taking on Pittsburgh on December 14 at the Regional Finals with hopes of reaching the national rounds. However, Wilson’s bizarre defense technique was too hard for the volleyball community to ignore, especially considering how the SEC powerhouse managed to make the most of the opportunity. The commentators of the match were also startled and one of them was heard saying, “We’re trying to bring in soccer fans here, okay?” Justifiably, the fans were just as impressed by the outside hitter’s skills.

Sharing the post, one soccer enthusiastic page commented, “Next USWNT star, right here!” noting its astonishment at how Madison can take on both soccer and volleyball responsibilities with equal merit. In recent years, the USA’s women’s soccer team has soared to unforeseen heights thanks to stars like Emma Sears and Alyssa Thompson. However, the volleyball community believes having Megan Wilson among their ranks would only benefit the soccer ladies in finding more success.

Fans laud Kentucky Wildcats star’s performance

“Insane! Love the creativity,” gushed another volleyball fan-run page, noting how an impromptu response to Mizzou’s attack ensured that Kentucky maintained a firm grip on the match. From the look of things, it seemed like Wilson was oblivious about what she was doing at the moment and took a moment to recollect herself. But by the time she was finding her footing, her teammates stepped up to use the surprise in their best interests.

The Kentucky women’s volleyball squad is a force to be reckoned with. Sailing on a 23-7 overall record, the Wildcats aren’t a bunch to be trifled with, and Megan once again showed just how well they can adapt to situations. Highlighting the team’s remarkable ability to think on the spot, one fan commented, “The fact that there was just no hesitation from Megan Wilson here to just throw in a header is actually insane,” and we can’t wait to see how Wilson & Co. pull another stupendous bunny out of the hat in their next game.

Another fan is convinced, Megan has been checking out USWNT’s videos to find ways to apply them to her sport. Back in October, US soccer star Naomi Grima helped the team secure a 3-0 victory over Argentina in a friendly match. The defense player scored two headers to give the USA an advantage over its opponents, and the fans are now finding parallels between Wilson and Grima. “She’s taking inspiration from Naomi Girma!!!” wrote a fan who thought the same. Another fan also hailed the stellar move by commenting, “the header is wild man.” Did you also find Wilson’s heroics to be a seminal moment in the match? Tell us your thoughts in a comment!