Lauren Rapp wasn't having a poor year by any stretch of the imagination.

UK had stormed to a top-10 ranking for the first time in two decades, was within a few matches of the school's first Southeastern Conference title since 1988, and Rapp was third on the team in kills and second in blocks.

But really, statistically speaking, Rapp wasn't having the type of season some in and around the volleyball program expected after a breakthrough sophomore season. Before this weekend, Rapp's kills had dipped from 2.86 kills per set in 2008 to 2.49; her blocks had tumbled from 0.92 to 0.72.

Head coach Craig Skinner said it wasn't a change in Rapp's play.

"There's more balance this year," Skinner said. "She's also played a lot of the time in the middle in the last half of the season, which you don't get as many opportunities to swing at times if you don't pass well."

The Cats have more options than at any other time in Skinner's tenure. Sarah Mendoza has been enjoying a career year, Blaire Hiler has become a go-to force off the bench and Gretchen Giesler is experiencing the same type of breakthrough season in her sophomore year that Rapp had a year ago.

In reality, there aren't always enough balls to go around.

Yet when Kentucky faced its biggest weekend of the year against Michigan State and Oregon in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, it was Rapp who made the difference. The right-side hitter from Indianapolis, Ind., terminated the ball a match-high 14 times vs. the Spartans. Against the Ducks, she charted a career-high 10 blocks.

Without her, Kentucky wouldn't have steamrolled through the first two rounds and into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1992.

"Lauren typically steps up in big matches," Skinner said. "She thrives in matches that are on the line. I think she's a great competitor. She wanted to step up and didn't want us to exit in the first round like we did last year."

Rapp's performance was exactly the type of bounce back UK needed after a devastating end to the regular season. Just a week after losing the SEC title with back-to-back losses, the Cats rebounded with arguably the best volleyball of the season.

"We haven't really changed anything," Skinner said. "I think our team just came together and decided that we were going to step up and play a level of volleyball that we're capable of and that we have done at times this year. I think it's more of a competitive mentality than it is whatever the situation is. I think they did not want to have that feeling again of losing and of feeling hurt. You don't want to feel those so it motivates you to do well."

Was that the case with Rapp this weekend?

"I just know my team relies on me at times so I try to step up and do what I can for the team," Rapp said.

Fair enough. But there's no denying that Rapp will be one of the keys if UK wants to advance even farther in the tournament.

UK will continue its run Friday at 6 p.m. ET vs. No. 3 seed Florida State (30-2) in Minneapolis, Minn. If the Cats win, they'll return to the court Saturday at 6:30 p.m. to play the winner of Minnesota-Colorado State on ESPNU.

When Rapp is going, it provides UK with a balanced, almost unstoppable attack.

"The better the attackers are playing, the more aggressive they are, the more confidence it gives to not only (Sarah) Rumely but our passers as well," Skinner said. "When you do have several options to set, you don't have to rely on just one or two people. It gives a lot of confidence to your setting and it gives a lot of confidence to the team knowing that we can side out no matter what the score is."

It puts opposing teams on their heels. Instead of defending against just Mendoza or Giesler, the Seminoles will have to scout and prepare for the Cats from top to bottom.

"It's a setter's dream to have hitters that can go off at anytime," said Rumely, UK's senior captain and setter. "Having a balanced attack just makes things really easy on me."

Even if Rapp can't duplicate her offensive performance from a week ago, it will be crucial that she replicates the defensive intensity she brought to Memorial Coliseum last weekend. Skinner has insisted that defense is one of the biggest determinations in advancing in the NCAA Tournament.

"(Becky Pavan and Rapp), those two side by side could be one of the best blocking tandems in the country," Skinner said.

No doubt, when UK is communicating right and Rapp is in the right position for blocks, UK - which recorded a season-high 17 blocks vs. Oregon - is nearly unbeatable.

"I think (the block) is the biggest momentum-changer in the game," Rapp said. "It kind of deflates the other team and gives you all their momentum. I think it's very intimidating for the other team to get blocked a couple of times. It just works in your favor."

If Rapp continues to build on her play this past weekend, the Cats will be favored to move on again.