Oct. 22, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky volleyball team lost to thefourth-ranked Florida Gators on Friday night, 3-0, to end the Cats two-matchwin streak. UK played well in the match putting up a .220 hitting percentage,but could not keep up with the potent Gator attack. UF hit at a .330 clip forthe match.

UK (11-9, 4-5 SEC) gave the Gators a tough fight in game one as eachteam seemed out of sync offensively, with both hitting below .200 for the game.The Cats fell behind early, but UF gave the Cats a chance to get back in thegame by committing nine hitting errors in the game. UK got within 13-9 beforethe Gators put the finishing touches on the game for a 15-9 win.

Florida (18-2, 9-0 SEC) turned things around in the second game to put the Catsinto a 2-0 hole with a convincing 15-5 victory. UF hit at a .594 percentagewith Nicole McCray and Heather Wright leading the way with five kills a piecefor the game. UK hit .256 for the game.

Just like the first two games, the Cats fell behind early in the game. UFscored the first seven points before UK could muster a point. With one point onthe board, the Cats showed new life and like so many times this season, foughtback to push their opponent to the brink. After falling behind 13-6, UK tooksix of the next seven points to get within 14-12. Unfortunately it was toolittle, too late for the Cats as the Gators won the next point for the match.

Florida?s McCray and Wright pounded out a game-high 13 kills. The Catsdid well to contain UF?s top player Jenny Manz. The 1998 SEC Player of the Yearwas held to only eight kills and a .104 hitting percentage. The Cats had onlytwo players hit double figures in kills as Stephenie Taylor and Kristen Batteach totaled 10. Florida, the third-best blocking team in the conference,out-blocked the Cats, the second-best blocking team, by an 11 to four margin.

UK will look to get back in the win column when the team travels toLouisville to play the Cardinals at Louisville Gardens on Sunday.