BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior Morgan Bergren was named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team as voted on by the league’s coaches, while the Wildcats were tapped to finish third in the league standings.
Bergren led UK with 1,291 assists in 2014, the second most in a single season in program history in the 25-point rally scoring era. The Muncie, Ind., native directed the UK offense to a .272 hitting percentage and a Southeastern Conference-best 14.25 kills per set, both the highest totals by the Wildcats since 2009.
Along with earning American Volleyball Coaches Association second-team All-America accolades as well as All-Region honors, she was an All-SEC selection as a junior. Bergren earned SEC Player of the Week honors on Oct. 6, 2014 after she led UK to a .306 attacking percentage with six players averaging 1.29 kills per set or better in Kentucky’s wins over Alabama and No. 21 Texas A&M. Bergren had 43 or more assists in each win and added 11 kills on .579 hitting with no errors.
In last season’s final regular season match, Bergren hit a perfect 1.000 with 10 kills on 10 attempts, a program and Memorial Coliseum record for attack percentage. In UK’s win at Louisville, the junior had 55 assists, a season-best and the most in a four-set match in team history in the 25-point rally scoring era.
She posted eight double-doubles in 2014 and led UK in assists in every match. Along with her season-best assists total, Bergren tied for second with 91 blocks, was third with 28 aces, fourth with 214 digs and fifth with 158 kills, all career-highs. In her career, Bergren’s 2,654 assists is third in the 25-point rally scoring era and the ninth-best in program history.
Nine student-athletes were selected to the 2015 Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team as voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches. Kentucky was picked to finish third behind Florida and Alabama in the preseason poll selected by the coaches.
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2015
Preseason All-SEC Team
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Krystal
Rivers
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Alabama
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Opp.
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R-Jr.
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Birmingham, Ala.
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Chanell
Clark-Bibbs
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Arkansas
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MB
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Jr.
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Houston, Texas
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Rhamat
Alhassan
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Florida
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MB
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So.
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Glenarden, Md.
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Mackenzie
Dagostino
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Florida
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S
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Sr.
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Tampa, Fla.
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Alex
Holston
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Florida
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RS
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Jr.
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Olney, Md.
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Morgan
Bergren
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Kentucky
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S
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Sr.
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Muncie, Ind.
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Nakeyta
Clair
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Ole Miss
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MB
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Sr.
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Country Club Hills, Ill.
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Carly
Kan
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Missouri
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OH
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Jr.
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Honolulu, Hawai’i
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Shelby
Sullivan
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Texas A&M
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MB
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Sr.
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Richardson, Texas
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Single-match and season tickets for the 2015 campaign are on sale now. Season tickets begin at $35, and single-game ticket information can be found
here. More information on how to buy tickets can be found here or by calling the UK Ticket Office at 800-928-CATS.
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum will play host to the NCAA Regionals Dec. 11-12. UK is one of four sites selected for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups with one team advancing to the Final Four in Omaha, Neb., from the Lexington Region. This marks the third time in five seasons Memorial Coliseum will host this premier volleyball event.
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2015
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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Place
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School
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Points
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1.
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Florida (12)
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144
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2.
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Alabama (1)
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127
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3.
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Kentucky
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120
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4.
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Texas A&M
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113
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5.
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Arkansas
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88
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6.
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LSU
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85
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7.
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Missouri
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84
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8.
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Ole Miss
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76
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9.
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Auburn
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59
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10.
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Georgia
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47
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11.
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South Carolina
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30
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12.
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Mississippi State
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21
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13.
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Tennessee
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20
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