Conference-High Nine UK Matches to Air on SEC Network

June 25, 2015

Compete 2015 Schedule (PDF)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a successful inaugural season of volleyball coverage on the SEC Network, the Kentucky volleyball team once again will play a prominent role in this year’s national TV coverage, with a conference-high-tying nine matches on the network in 2015.

The complete television schedule, which features 50 volleyball matches on the SEC Network and ESPNU, will once again have a distinct Kentucky flavor. Each of the conference’s 13 teams will play at least six nationally-televised contests, but no team will be highlighted more than UK’s nine.

“The SEC hit a home run last year with its coverage of volleyball,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “I can speak for all of our league’s coaches in that we are thrilled to continue this momentum for our sport in year two of the network.”

Along with the 50 matches on the SEC Network and ESPNU, an additional number of contests, to be announced at a later date, will air on SEC Network+, available online via WatchESPN. All SEC Network and ESPNU contests will also be available on WatchESPN.

New in 2015 will be Wednesday Night Volleyball, a doubleheader of volleyball action for 10 consecutive weeks on the SEC Network and ESPNU. The Wildcats will be a part of Wednesday Night Volleyball in two of their three SEC Wednesday night outings. UK hosts Arkansas on Oct. 7 and will travel to Texas A&M on Nov. 18.

A highlight of the conference’s television schedule is a pair of rivalry matches between Kentucky and Florida. The SEC’s top two teams from a year ago will square off in Gainesville, Fla., on Sept. 27 and again in Lexington on Oct. 18 on the SEC Network. Both contests will now begin at 1 p.m. ET.

The Wildcats will make their first national TV appearance of 2015 in their SEC opener at South Carolina on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. After traveling to Florida, UK will play on the SEC Network for a third consecutive match when it hosts Mississippi State on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

Kentucky’s Wednesday Night Volleyball debut will be on Oct. 7 vs. Arkansas. The contest will now begin at 8 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.

After the season’s second meeting with the Gators on Oct. 18, this time in Lexington, UK’s next match on the SEC Network will be on Oct. 30 vs. Texas A&M at 7 p.m.

The Big Blue Nation will be able to see the Wildcats in back-to-back road matches, at Georgia on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and at Tennessee on Nov. 8. The border rivalry between UK and UT will now begin 30 minutes earlier, at 1 p.m.

Kentucky’s final SEC Network appearance of the regular season will be on Nov. 18 at Texas A&M. The time for the Wednesday Night Volleyball contest will be announced at a later date.

The Wildcats’ complete 30-match schedule, announced in May, includes 12 matches against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2014. UK hosts 14 matches at Memorial Coliseum, including in-state rival Louisville and a season-opening tournament in addition to nine SEC matches.

Kentucky returns five starters and nine letter winners, including second-team All-America selection Morgan Bergren. The Wildcats welcome a three-member, highly-touted recruiting class to a team that went 27-6 last season and made the NCAA Tournament for a program-record 10th consecutive year.

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.

Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky volleyball team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info on the volleyball team like Kentucky Volleyball on Facebook or follow the team on Twitter at @KentuckyVB.