Sept. 17, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The UK Volleyball team suffered its first home loss of the season on Friday night as the team was surprised by the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians 3-0 in the opening match of the Kentucky Conference Challenge. SEMO (5-4) ambushed the Wildcats with a quick 15-4 win in game one and carried that momentum through the rest of the match.
In a dismal display of hitting by the Cats (5-3), senior Jaclyn Homan was the most effective attacker as she scored ten kills and a .391 hitting percentage. As a team, UK hit .099 for the match (34-22-121). The UK attack was largely neutralized by SEMO’s stellar defensive play as the team was credited with digging 54 Wildcat attacks. Junior Krista Haukap led the way with 15 digs.
The Wildcats had a chance to even the match at a game a piece with the score tied at 15-15 in the second game, but after several side-outs, SEMO took the final two points of the game and a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. UK fell behind again in game three and despite scoring six straight points, the Cats got no closer than 12-8 and lost the deciding game 15-10.
Junior Lea Beckemeyer led the Otahkians with 19 kills. UK senior Katie Eiserman played her usual determined game and compiled a team-high 12 digs.
IN OTHER ACTION – The Hofstra Flying Dutchwomen had their flight into Lexington delayed by Hurricane Floyd and did not arrive at Memorial Coliseum for their 8:30 p.m. match until 7 p.m., but still had enough energy to put away the Chippewas of Central Michigan in four games, 3-1. Hofstra’s Enkelejda Katiraj led the team with 19 kills while Lindsey Birkel dished out 66 assists. Jennifer Mitchell of CMU scored a game-high 24 kills in a losing effort.
SEMO will play Hofstra (8-2) tomorrow at 11 a.m. with Kentucky hosting Central Michigan (3-5) directly after that match. In evening action, SEMO will meet Central Michigan at 5 p.m. with UK taking on Hofstra at 7 p.m.
AGATE
Lexington, Ky.
Memorial Coliseum
Attendance: 99
Length of Match: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Southeast Missouri St. def. Kentucky, 15-4, 17-15, 15-10
Attendance: 60
Length of Match: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Hofstra def. Central Michigan, 13-15, 15-9, 15-7, 15-7
