Oct. 23, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday to Tennessee, the seventh-ranked Kentucky volleyball team returns to action Saturday when they play host to No. 20 LSU. The two squads enter the match as the only remaining one-loss conference teams. The match is set for a 1:30 p.m. ET start at Memorial Coliseum.
Senior libero BriAnne Sauer achieved a new personal-best when she charted 35 digs in the loss to Tennessee. Sauer’s previous career-high was a 29 dig performance in her sophomore season. Sauer’s 35 digs is the most for any UK player since Jenni Casper had 36 against LSU in 2006.
LSU has been on a torrid pace since the last time the two squads met in Baton Rouge on Sept. 20. The Tigers have won eight consecutive matches — including a 3-0 sweep of Florida. With a 9-1 clip in league play, LSU and Kentucky are tied for the lead in the conference standings. The Tigers are led by All-SEC player Brittnee Cooper who leads the team in both kills (3.35) and blocks (1.29) per set. Setter Sam Dabbs is second in the conference behind UK’s Sarah Rumely with 10.95 assists per frame. As a team, LSU averages 13.74 kills per set and 2.65 blocks per stanza.
In the first meeting between the two squads, UK had a season-best 14.5 blocks in the 3-0 sweep. Sophomore middle blockers Gretchen Giesler and Becky Pavan each charted six block assists in the win. Giesler also totaled 10 kills and junior outside hitter Sarah Mendoza posted 10 matched that total in the win. LSU limited UK to just .197 hitting — the only time UK has been held under .200 and still posted a win.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date news, highlights and features from the Kentucky volleyball team.
