(Nov. 4, 2000) — The University of Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team will play host to South Carolina, Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. atMemorial Coliseum in a crucial Southeastern Conference Eastern Division showdown. UK needs a victory to keepits postseason tournament hopes alive.
Entering this weekend, two games separate four schools vying for the eighth and final invitation to the SECTournament (Nov. 17-19 in Gainesville, Fla.). Currently, the Ole Miss Rebels hold the eighth spot with UK, Auburnand Mississippi State nipping at their heels.
Sunday’s match will be the second between UK and USC this season. The Gamecocks triumphed in the Sept. 29encounter, 3-0, and the Cats are hoping to even the season series in their next-to-last home match of the year.
UK (4-18, 2-9 SEC) did not have a match on Friday night, and has used the extended lay-off to heal nagginginjuries.
“At this point in the season, we have been emphasizing rest and recovery,” Coach Jona Braden said. “Not havinga match on Friday allowed us some much needed rest and more time to prepare for USC.”
The Cats have been devoting extra practice time this week to blocking. In the first meeting, USC hit .442, thehighest attack percentage of any UK opponent this season.
“Blocking is one part of our game that we really need to clean-up,” Braden said. “We have been getting toucheson the ball, but they have not been solid or clean touches.”
On the offensive side, UK will rely heavily on the play of Megan Weiskircher. The senior middle blocker hit betterthan .300 in last weekend’s matches against Georgia and Florida. Weiskircher is among the conference leadersaveraging 3.53 kills per game.
Weiskircher and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Batt spearhead UK’s offensive attack. Batt is averaging 4.11kills per game in conference play (SEC matches only). The tandem will be looked upon to lead the Cats on Sundayafternoon. April Barnhorst will look to duplicate her previous performance against USC in which she hit .700.
USC (18-4, 9-1 SEC) is coming off a Friday night victory sweep of Tennessee. The Gamecocks have won 15 oftheir last 16 matches and occupy second position in the SEC East behind Florida.
Kentucky and South Carolina have split their four previous matches in the series. In the home finale last season,UK came back from an 0-2 deficit to beat USC. Five days later, the rivalry continued to build as the Cats bouncedthe Gamecocks from the SEC Tournament.
“We always have great matches with USC. I think both teams bring out the best in the other and that there ismutual respect from both squads,” Braden added.
