June 25, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum has once again been selected as one of four host sites for the NCAA Volleyball Regionals this time in the year 2013.
The selection will mark the second time in three seasons that Memorial Coliseum hosts the NCAA Volleyball Regional, as the NCAA announced in February UK’s home gym as a host site for a 2011 Regional as well. Other regional sites selected for 2013 are Southern California, Illinois and Florida. The winners from the four Regional sites will march on to the Final Four.
“To be selected again in 2013 to host a Regional is another great tribute to the program and our administration,” UK Coach Craig Skinner said. “We are very excited to be one of the four host schools selected and will continue to do our part in the continued growth of volleyball here at Kentucky and the surrounding area. I can’t thank our administration enough for putting the time, energy and resources together to host NCAA events.”
Memorial Coliseum hosted the NCAA First and Second round matches in 2008 and 2009, and has been a host site for the First and Second rounds of the NCAA tournament a total of eight times since 1983.
Kentucky Senior Women’s Administrator, Lisa Peterson, sees the succession of site selections as the NCAA showing respect for Kentucky’s volleyball program and its fans.
“The sport of volleyball is continuing to grow in popularity and that is very evident in the support the Kentucky fan base has shown for Coach Skinner and the program,” Peterson said. “Our team has continued to improve each season and our fan base has grown with that improvement. This is once again a great sign of respect not only for our program, but for the dedicated staff that spends countless hours in preparing to host NCAA events.”
The Wildcats have played in five consecutive NCAA tournaments and are of one of just 20 schools in the country to achieve such a feat. Skinner’s five consecutive NCAA trips are the most by any coach in school history. In 2009, Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Regional in Minneapolis, Minn., for the first time under Skinner’s tutelage after winning two matches in Lexington. The run was highlighted by a 3-0 win over Oregon, the No.13 overall seed in the tournament.
Kentucky will begin its quest for a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament run when the regular season kicks off on Aug. 28, in the 16th annual Runza/American Volleyball Coaches Association Showcase in Omaha, Neb. UK begins the season with a matchup against the host Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Showcase, considered the premier collegiate volleyball tournament of the regular season, will also feature Iowa State and SEC rival Florida.
Follow along with the Wildcats on UKathletics.com all year long for the most up-to-date information, stats and releases.
