Team needs win to keep pace in SEC East

The University of Kentucky volleyball team will look to get back on the winning track when theytravel to Baton Rouge for a showdown with the LSU Tigers on Friday, October 6, at 8 p.m. ET atthe Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

UK (4-10, 2-1 SEC) is coming off an 0-2 road trip last weekend and desperately needs a victoryto keep pace with Florida and South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division.The Cats are working to improve upon the slow starts they have been experiencing in conferenceplay.

“We did not come out ready to play in our last SEC game against South Carolina, and it showed,”said coach Jona Braden. “Playing well in the first game is crucial because it will give our teamconfidence throughout the entire match.” LSU (6-7, 1-2 SEC) lost its most recent match last Sunday 3-1 to Alabama. The Tigers rely on thetrio of Meagan Davis, Meghan Bedford and Jennifer Hampton to provide their offensive firepower.

Davis leads the team with 3.24 kills per game and a .372 hitting percentage which ranks fifth in theSEC. Bedford and Hampton are averaging 2.93 and 2.87 kills per game, respectively. In addition,Hamptons average of 3.35 digs per game ranks her second in the conference.

In order for the Cats to pull the upset, they must do a good job of defending the Tigers offensiveattack. Defensive specialists Aleisha Craven and Candace Cogan will have to continue their solidplay and UK will need another strong performance from setter Whitney Sample. Sample postedher second-career double-double with 45 assists and a career-high 17 digs last Sunday againstNC State.

Friday will mark the lone meeting between UK and LSU this season, barring a post-seasonmatch-up in the SEC tournament. UK holds a commanding 19-4 lead in the overall series. TheTigers took last years contest with a 3-1 victory in Memorial Coliseum.