Women’s volleyball looks to topple SEC leader.
Oct. 21, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After getting back on the winning track last weekend, the University ofKentucky volleyball team will face its toughest test of the season on Fridaynight when the No. 4 ranked Lady Gators of Florida travel to Lexington tobattle the Cats. UK will then get a break from the SEC slate when the teamtravels to Louisville on Sunday for a return engagement with the Redbirds.Last weekend Kentucky (11-8, 4-4 SEC) broke a two-match losing streak bybeating Ole Miss and Mississippi State on their tour of Mississippi. Florida iscoming off a pair of 3-0 sweeps against South Carolina and Georgia inGainesville, Fla.
One of the strongest volleyball programs in the country, Florida (17-2, 8-0SEC) features a talented team and an incredibly difficult schedule. Winners ofthe last eight SEC regular season titles, Florida began this year ranked No. 8and has moved up four spots after winning 17 of its first 19 matches. Florida’sonly losses this season have come at the hands of powerhouses, No. 3 Pacificand No. 13 Nebraska. Lady Gators have won the last two SEC Player of the Weekhonors and a total of three all season. 1998 SEC Player of the year Jenny Manzwon the honor in week two and again last week. Heather Wright was the recipientof the award in week seven.
Florida holds a 17-9 edge in the all-time series with Kentucky and has defeatedthe Cats fifteen straight times since 1991. After winning the first threematch-ups, UK has not beaten UF since Nov. 10, 1990. The Gators hold a 24-gamewin streak over the Cats since 1995, a streak spanning eight matches.
On Sept. 21, UK outlasted Louisville 3-2, in a grueling five game match atMemorial Coliseum to end UK’s ten match losing streak against U of L (9-9, 7-2C-USA). The Cats had not beaten the Cardinals in volleyball since Sept. 4,1993. When UK played Louisville earlier this year, the Cardinals were losers offive straight and playing without several key players. The Cards are healthyagain and have won six straight heading into its Friday night match withCincinnati.
In 22 seasons of UK Volleyball, the Wildcats and Cardinals have met a UK-record39 times with UK holding a 26-13 advantage over U of L
