Team looking to end losing streak

The University of Kentucky volleyball team begins conference play Friday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., when theMississippi State Bulldogs invade Memorial Coliseum. The Southeastern Conference opener for the Cats mayprove to be a blessing in disguise. Despite opening against unbeaten Mississippi State, UK (2-8) appearsoptimistic about its chances in the conference.

“It’s a brand new season, and every team starts with a clean slate,” said UK coach Jona Braden. “Teams lookforward to beginning their conference schedule, and we have something to prove. We have yet to play to ourpotential, but things are starting to fall into place and the team is beginning to jell.”

Though the Cats have lost their last four matches, line-up changes have been made, and team chemistry isimproving. Sophomore Liz McCaslin was inserted into the starting line-up following her performances in theKentucky Conference Challenge. In her first start against Western Kentucky, McCaslin posted hersecond-consecutive double-double.

MSU (11-0) enters the contest riding a school-record 11-match win streak. The Bulldogs have already equaled theirwin total from 1999. MSU boasts the conferences leading hitter in senior Brianne Smedley who is torching the netwith a hitting percentage of .479, the second best clip in the NCAA.

Smedley and fellow senior co-captain Christine Owen provide the one-two punch that powers MississippiState. The balanced MSU attack has led to seven straight shutout victories, the last coming Tuesday, Sept. 19, overAlabama-Birmingham.

UK must counter the Bulldogs aggressiveness if it is to pick up its third win of the season. The Cats will relyheavily on the play of Megan Weiskircher. The senior is the team leader in kills (134) and digs (96) and rankssecond in blocks (35).

Kentucky won last years match, 3-1, and has lost only once to Mississippi State in 25 previous encounters.