Sept. 21, 2001
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky volleyball team fell, 3-0, to the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in the opening Southeastern Conference match on Friday, Sept. 21 in Memorial Coliseum.
The Wildcats (4-4, 0-1 SEC) led for much of game one, maintaining a three-point lead early on before Arkansas came back to tie the game at 12. UA (2-5, 1-0 SEC) held the lead for a while before UK sparked a comeback and tied the game at 23 on an April Barnhorst kill. It wasn’t enough as the Lady Backs held the Cats scoreless after a tie at 25 to take the game.
In game two, the Hogs jumped out to an early 8-3 lead before Kentucky tied the game at 13. Arkansas remained strong down the stretch, however, taking the second game 30-22 and headed to the break with the 2-0 advantage.
The Cats appeared to have found their rhythm in game three, building a 19-11 lead and forcing an Arkansas timeout. The Lady Backs charged back and tied the game at 23, resulting in a UK timeout. Three consecutive kills and a huge block solo by Barnhorst put the Wildcats up 27-24. The Hogs came calling after a quick timeout and held the Cats scoreless for the remainder of the game and took the match with the 30-27 decision.
“We just didn’t execute on the outside tonight,” Coach Jona Braden said. “We knew coming in that we needed to pass well. Unfortunately, we didn’t take care of the ball.
“Based on what we asked our middle blockers to do, which was move along the net, they did great,” Braden continued. “We just needed to finish.”
Sophomore Sissy Canfield led the with 12 kills en route to a .391 hitting percentage. Kentucky’s .194 team percentage was the third lowest of the season, while its two team blocks was a season low.
With the loss, the Cats fall to 4-6 all-time against the Hogs. Arkansas tied the series in Lexington at two with its win and have taken the last two meetings.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 23, as the Cats play host to LSU at 2 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
Game Scores
Game One – UA 30, UK 25
Game Two – UA 30, UK 22
Game Three – UA 30, UK 27
