Junior opposite hitter delivers 15 kills and a .500 hitting percentage as Wildcats sweep LSU, highlighting her return to form following an eye injury.
The junior opposite hitter committed just two errors on 26 attacks while adding eight digs and four block assists, providing a spark for the Wildcats after an eye injury interrupted her season.
Gaerte, who transferred from Notre Dame during the offseason, has been adjusting to a new position after previously playing outside hitter. Her transition gained momentum in September when she recorded 20 kills against nationally ranked Louisville and followed with a season-high 21 against previously unbeaten Vanderbilt.
An injury sustained during practice before Kentucky's matchup with then-No. 7 Texas temporarily halted that progress. Gaerte missed matches against Texas and Auburn before returning against No. 7 Florida wearing protective eyewear.
She struggled to regain her rhythm against the Gators, finishing with 11 kills and eight errors while hitting .088.
Friday's performance against LSU told a different story.
Gaerte opened the match with six kills on her first six swings and finished the opening set with seven kills and a .714 hitting percentage. She added three digs and two block assists as Kentucky established control.
The junior continued her offensive surge in the second set, collecting seven more kills while hitting .636.
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said the Wildcats recognized opportunities to exploit LSU's defensive positioning and took advantage of Gaerte's early success.
"Just her getting the job done makes you want to keep going back there and scoring," Skinner said.
Gaerte credited her time away from competition with helping her gain a different perspective on the game.
"Being on the bench and learning from so many different perspectives about the little things we talk about, that was really cool," Gaerte said.
Her return also required adjusting to protective eyewear, which she began wearing after the practice injury. Gaerte said she experimented with different pairs before finding a better fit for Friday's match.
The performance marked another encouraging step in her transition to opposite hitter, a position that has allowed Kentucky to capitalize on her attacking ability.
Gaerte's efficiency against LSU provided the Wildcats with a reliable offensive option while demonstrating her ability to respond after a challenging stretch.
With her confidence returning and her adjustment to the new position progressing, Gaerte gives Kentucky another weapon as Southeastern Conference play continues.
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-- By Andréa Mochida and Andre Leday
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