Aug. 30, 2001
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky will embark on its 25th season of volleyball when it takes the floor on Aug. 31 against Southern Methodist at the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas. Joining UK and host SMU will be Duke and Weber St. UK and SMU play the second game on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Coach Jona Braden and her team look to improve on a disappointing 6-21 campaign last year, and will rely heavily on the leadership from seniors April Barnhorst and Whitney Sample. Braden looks to get her 200th career win this weekend as well. She needs just two wins to reach the milestone after compiling a 198-165 record in 11 seasons as a head coach.
“We’re really excited about getting the season under way,” Braden said. “This tournament will be a great chance to see what type of competitive fire this squad will bring to the floor.”
This marks only the second time in school history that the Cats have faced SMU in volleyball. The first meeting, which took place on Sept. 19, 1998 in Lexington, was a 3-1 UK win. SMU is coming off a 14-17 season and returns four starters. The Mustangs finished the season 4-12 in Western Athletic Conference play, placing them tied for eighth in the league in 2000. Coach Lisa Seifert is entering her sixth season as the head coach at SMU, holding a 79-90 career record.
Seniors Janna Newsom and Tara Hatfield look to lead the `Stangs into battle this season. Both returners looked impressive in SMU’s Red and Blue Scrimmage on Tuesday, Aug. 28, as Newsom hit .429 for the match while Hatfield recorded 23 assists.
The Cats will face a strong Duke team for the first time in seven years on Saturday. Kentucky leads the series 7-2, with Duke grabbing a 3-1 win on Nov. 26, 1994, in Durham, N.C.The Blue Devils return five starters and six other letterwinners from last season’s 21-13 squad. The team finished 8-8 in Atlantic Coast play, finishing fifth in the conference. Coach Jolene Nagel adds four newcomers to the 2001 team, her third Duke squad. Senior Ashley Harris returns after leading her team in total kills and kills per game last season.
The Wildcats of Weber State will be UK’s final opponent of the tournament. This marks the first meeting for the two squads in volleyball.WSU returns four starters from the 2000 team that posted a 10-17 record. The Wildcats were 6-10 in Big Sky Conference play, placing them seventh in the league.
Coach Al Givens is entering his ninth season as head coach at Weber St. and holds a 92-138 record at the school. His squad is led by 2000 All-Big Sky second team selection Stephanie Metcalf, a junior outside hitter. She led the Wildcats in total kills (382, 3.94 kpg) and digs (278, 2.87 dpg).
UK returns home on Tuesday, Sept. 4, when the Wildcats play host to intrastate rival Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
