Reigning SEC Champions Embrace Challenging 2019 Schedule
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A rigorous nonconference schedule a season ago ultimately paved the way for an undefeated Southeastern Conference run for the Kentucky volleyball team. All head coach Craig Skinner did for his team in 2019 was up the ante.
The 2019 edition of the UK volleyball team will once again face one of the most demanding schedules in the country, which should only continue to prepare the team for its end of the year goals and a deep run in the national tournament with eight of 11 nonconference opponents racking up NCAA Tournament appearances a season ago.
Kentucky will begin the season with three round-robin tournaments and host two marquee matchups prior to the SEC slate beginning.
“(Associate Head Coach) Anders (Nelson) and I have worked hard on this schedule for a long time,” Skinner said. “Once again we’ve been able to put together quality matches against great competition. The nonconference portion of the schedule is very important for SEC and postseason preparation. The matches will challenge us in many ways, which is very important for the evolution of our team during the first four weeks of the season.”
The Wildcats concluded the 2018 season with a 26-5 record, their second straight league championship and another appearance in the NCAA Regional Semifinals. For the 11th time in 12 seasons, UK reached the 20-win mark. The Cats will begin the 2019 season with eight players who participated in at least 20 matches a season ago, including All-Americans Leah Edmond and Madison Lilley, SEC Libero of the Year Gabby Curry and SEC Freshman of the Year Alli Stumler. Kentucky will also bring the nation’s No. 21 ranked recruiting class and graduate transfer and former All-Atlantic Coast Conference middle blocker Leah Meyer to the mix in 2019.
For the third straight year, Kentucky will begin the season with an exhibition match against Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers will return to Lexington on Aug. 21 for the Big Blue Nation’s first glimpse at this year’s Wildcats. This year’s match with WKU will take place at Dunbar High School in Lexington. More information about that match will come at a later date.
Just like a season ago, the Wildcats will begin their season away from home. Kentucky will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for three opening-weekend matches. UK will take on NCAA Tournament participant Cal Poly in its season debut on Aug. 30. Kentucky will then take on the host Utes, also an NCAA Tournament team in 2018, later that afternoon. The Cats will wrap up their stay out West with a date against Saint Mary’s on Aug. 31.
For the sixth consecutive season, Kentucky along with Creighton, Southern Cal and Northern Iowa will compete in a round-robin tournament in one of the premier nonconference tournaments in collegiate volleyball. This year’s tournament will be played in Cedar Falls, Iowa, beginning Sept. 6. The Cats will take on Creighton and Southern Cal on the opening day of play, before playing host Northern Iowa on Sept. 7.
Kentucky will return home in its highly-anticipated home opener on Sept. 13. The Cats will welcome Cleveland State, Florida Gulf Coast and Indiana for the annual Bluegrass Battle inside of Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky will play Cleveland State on Sept. 13 and then NCAA Tournament participant Florida Gulf Coast later that evening. The Hoosiers and Cats will tangle on Sept. 14 to wrap-up the tournament.
Perennial BIG 10 power Purdue, who Kentucky defeated in the round of 32 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year a season ago, will travel to Memorial Coliseum once again on Sept. 18.
Nonconference action concludes with the annual rivalry match with Louisville when the Cardinals will travel east on I-64 on Sept. 20. The Wildcats have won each of the last six matchups against their instate foe. Louisville advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago and earned a top-30 recruiting class earlier this spring.
Times, SEC matches, the TV schedule and information about season tickets will be announced at a later date. Fans interested in learning more about purchasing season tickets are encouraged to contact the UK Athletics Ticket Office at (859) 257-1818 or by visiting UKathletics.com/Tickets for updates as more information becomes available.
Follow along with the Cats on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
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— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) May 16, 2019
