Oct. 22, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following its most complete defensive performance of the season, the 24th-ranked Kentucky volleyball team will conclude its three-match road swing at Auburn on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The Blue and White (18-4, 9-2 SEC) earned a 3-1 victory on Friday night at Georgia as the Wildcats set a new school-record with 20.5 blocks in the match. All of UK’s blockers registered at least four blocks in the match.
Kentucky’s back-line defensive effort was equally impressive with five players recording 10 or more digs. Junior Stephanie Klefot led the way with 17 scoops, while sophomore Jessi Greenberg matched a career-high with 12.
Junior Christine Hartmann recorded her third double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs. She led the Wildcat offense to 53 kills on .269 hitting with junior Ashley Frazier matching a career-high with 18 kills. Senior Ann Armes continues her consistent play with nine kills on a match-high .412 hitting clip.
Auburn dropped a 3-1 match at home to Tennessee on Friday night to fall to 9-12 on the year and 3-8 in conference action.
Kelly Fidero leads the offense with 3.08 kills per set on a .259 hitting clip. Chole Rowland leads the defensive effort at the net with 1.03 blocks per frame. Auburn strikes for 12.32 kills per set on a .210 hitting percentage.
The Wildcats earned a 3-0 sweep over Auburn in the opening match of Southeastern Conference action at home in mid-September.
Kentucky once again had a balanced performance both offensively and defensively. Frazier led the offensive output with a team-high 10 kills on .348 hitting. Frazier added five digs, three aces and a trio of blocks in the victory. Armes pitched in with seven kills on a .778 hitting percentage.
UK had seven total blocks on the night led by three from Frazier and senior Gretchen Giesler. Klefot paced the back-line with a match-high 17 scoops. Sophomore Whitney Billings added seven and sophomore Greenberg chipped in with six.
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum will play host to the NCAA Regionals Dec. 9-10. UK is one of four sites selected for Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups with one team advancing to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, from the Lexington Region.
Opening night matches are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m. ET. Saturday’s final is set for a 4:30 p.m. ET first serve.
Tickets are now on sale through the UK Ticket Office. All-Session Tickets are reserved for all ages at $14. General Admission tickets for adults are priced at $12 and students or seniors’ general admission is slated for $8.
Single session tickets are priced at $8 for reserved for all ages. General admission for adults is priced at $7, with students and seniors priced at $5. Youth single session tickets are $4.
For tickets or more information feel free to call, 1-800-928-CATS.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams.
