Oct. 16, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky volleyball team returns home to face LSU and Arkansas in one of the most exciting weekend’s on campus this year. Homecoming 2003 features two exciting Southeastern Conference volleyball matches, two home men’s soccer games and the homecoming football game against Ohio. “Big Blue Madness,” the annual tip-off of basketball season, follows the LSU match on Friday night in Memorial Coliseum. The LSU match starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, while UK will face Arkansas at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Kentucky dropped two SEC road matches to South Carolina and Tennessee last week. In Columbia, the Cats fell to the Gamecocks in a thrilling five-game match, including a final-game score of 15-13.

Sissy Canfield had a solid showing at Tennessee on Sunday with a career-high 10 blocks, but the Wildcats couldn’t overcome the home-standing Volunteers and dropped the match in four games. Also performing well for UK in the contest was sophomore Danielle Wallace, who totaled 19 kills and 10 digs on .533 hitting for her first career double-double.

Since the Cats and Tigers first met this season on Sept. 28, a 3-2 LSU win in Baton Rouge, LSU has gone 2-2 in SEC play with wins over Auburn and Mississippi State and losses to Alabama and Ole Miss.

The Tigers are 8-11 overall entering the weekend with a 3-4 conference record. Junior Regan Hood continues to lead her team, averaging 4.59 kills per game, which ranks first in the conference. Rachel Pittman averages 2.54 digs per game to lead the defensive effort for LSU.

Fran Flory, who coached Kentucky from 1993-1997, is in her sixth season at the helm of the Louisiana State program. She holds an 88-81record while in Baton Rouge and 198-195 career record. She also served as an assistant at LSU from 1988-1991.

The weekend also serves as Volleyball Alumni Weekend and will feature a special recognition ceremony at halftime of the LSU match on Friday. Admission to all UK volleyball matches is free.