Sept. 18, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The UK Volleyball team closed the fourth annual Kentucky Conference Challenge with a tough five-game loss to Hofstra University on Saturday night, earning the Cats third place in the tourney with a 1-2 mark. The Wildcats rebounded from a dismal loss on Friday night with a 3-1 afternoon victory over Central Michigan (3-7). Southeast Missouri State (7-4) won the KCC with victories over UK, Hofstra and Central Michigan. UK is now 6-4 this season.

In the first five-game match for the Wildcats in ?99, the Cats scratched and clawed to hang with the Flying Dutchwomen of Hofstra (9-3). The Cats stole game one with some magnificent defensive play as the team totaled 21 digs in the game, six alone by junior Stacey Wallace.

Trailing two games to one, UK fell behind 7-3 in game four but turned things around and won the game 15-13 behind some efficient attacking by seniors Katie Eiserman and Jaclyn Homan. With the Wildcats forcing a deciding game five, a nip-and-tuck game five ensued with Hofstra taking the game 15-13 and the match.

?Tonight was a great regrouping effort from last night,? said UK coach Jona Braden. ?But we still have some work to do. We still have some individuals that need to step it up. Our players need to be more prepared to step up and close the door on opponents. This will be a great match to learn and grow from.?

The KCC All-Tournament team was announced right after the UK/Hofstra match with the honorees as follows: Jessica Rocho (CMU), Lindsey Birkel (HU), Gretchen Lavander (HU), Angie Aschoff (SEMO), Eiserman and Homan (UK). Southeast Missouri State?s Krista Haukap was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

?We really had an overall great tournament,? said coach Cindy Gannon of the victorious SEMO Otahkians. ?The team showed maturity and focused on their goals coming into the tournament. This tournament, which featured great competition, will help us prepare for our upcoming conference season.?

The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday when they host in-state rival Louisville at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.

AGATE
Lexington, Ky. Memorial Coliseum

Game Three Attendance: 70
Length of Match: 1 hour, 25 minutes
SEMO def. Hofstra, 16-14, 15-9, 15-4

Game Four Attendance: 100

Length of Match: 1 hour
Kentucky def. Central Michigan, 15-2, 4-15, 15-9, 15-2

Game Five Attendance: 47

Length of Match: 55 minutes
SEMO def. Central Michigan,

Game Six Attendance: 112
Length of Match: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Hofstra def. Kentucky, 12-15, 15-13, 15-7, 13-15, 15-13