Sept. 12, 2002

Kentucky Conference Challenge Notes (PDF)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky will open its 2002 home schedule on Friday, Sept. 13, when it plays host to the Kentucky Conference Challenge in Memorial Coliseum. The round-robin tournament, which continues through Saturday, also features Dayton, Wake Forest and Western Michigan.

After spending the first two weeks of the season on the road, the Cats (4-2) welcome the chance to return home. UK is 17-8 all-time in home openers, a record it looks to improve upon against Wake Forest on Friday at 7 p.m.

Last weekend, Kentucky swept the Outback Steakhouse Wolfpack Classic in Raleigh, N.C., earning the tournament title with wins over N.C. State, Charlotte and Wichita State. Junior Kristi Kelley and senior Kristen Batt were named to the all-tournament team after solid weekends.

Dayton enters Memorial sporting a 5-2 record after recording a win over Miami, Ohio, on Tuesday. Wake Forest is 2-4 after three tough losses last weekend at the Brigham Young Invitational in Provo, Utah. Western Michigan broke a season-opening five-match losing streak on Saturday with a 3-1 win over DePaul, placing them at 1-5 on the season. Three of the Broncos five losses, however, came at the hands of top-25 opponents.

The Kentucky Conference Challenge is an annual tournament dating back to 1995. The event has been played every year since, with the exception of 2001, when all weekend activities were cancelled following the tragedies of September 11.