Team confident following win

Winning changes everything, and the University of Kentucky volleyball team knows this well. UKs confidence is soaring as theCats prepare to take on the Ole Miss Rebels Sunday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.

Following Friday nights victory over Mississippi State, the Cats emerged from the locker room with bright smiles and a newattitude.

We needed a win to keep our spirits up, said coach Jona Braden. Our play had been improving, but the results were still thesame. Now that we have a win over a good conference opponent, we know what we a capable of doing.

UK (3-8, 1-0 SEC) will need the kind of performance demonstrated Friday night if they are to run their conference record to2-0.

In order for us to play our best, everyone on the team must contribute on each point, commented setter Whitney Sample.Winning is the result of a total team effort, and we are beginning to understand that.

A balanced team effort will be the key to victory against the Lady Rebels. Ole Miss (6-6, 0-1 SEC) is coming a loss toTennessee in its conference opener Friday night, 3-1. The Lady Rebels are led by outside hitters Kira Zschau and Jaime Burns. Theoutside hitters rank first and second on the team in kills and digs.

Kentucky will have to rely on the strength of its bench tomorrow, as the Cats will be without the services of seniors StaceyWallace and Stephenie Taylor. Both players suffered knee injuries in Fridays victory. No official report has been issued regardingthe severity of the injuries.

UK took last years meeting 3-2 at Ole Miss. The Cats lead the overall series 21-6.