Sept. 6, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Behind an all-around well-executed match Kentucky earned a 3-0 sweep of the Missouri Tigers in the second match of the Maryland tournament Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats used a blistering offensive attack and an equally impressive defensive effort to claim the 25-21, 25-15, 25-23 victory. Kentucky hit at a .279 clip while registering 50 digs and 21 blocks. Sophomore Lauren Rapp paced the Wildcats with 12 kills, and Armes reaching double-figures with 11. Freshman Becky Pavan set a career-high with a match-high eight blocks. Junior BriAnne Sauer led the defensive effort with 13 digs. Junior Sarah Rumely tallied her 20th career double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs. Rumely also reached 100 career aces with an ace in today’s match.
“I think we witnessed today what Kentucky volleyball is all about,” said head coach Craig Skinner. “I thought we were very, very good offensively as a lot of people hit at a high percentage. Our defense was awesome too. We’ve been working on blocking every single day, and I think it finally paid off.”
UK opened the match taking the first set by the score of 25-21 behind four kills from both sophomore Sarah Mendoza and Armes. The Wildcats were out-hit in the set, giving a nod to the Wildcat defense which produced seven blocks and 17 digs. Three UK players recorded four digs in the set while three players registered two blocks.
Kentucky started the first set with a quick point off a Mendoza powerful kill down the line. The two teams traded points until Rumely came up with a block and Armes followed with a kill to give UK a 5-2 lead. After an attacking error by the Wildcats, Armes followed with her second kill in frame regaining the two-point edge. The Tigers fired back with three points evening the score at six. Three consecutive miscues by Mizzou followed by a monster kill by Mendoza gave UK its largest lead in the early going at 10-6. The two teams exchanged points until Armes came up with three straight points for the Blue and White. She teamed up with senior Queen Nzenwa for a rejection which was sandwiched between two kills giving Kentucky a 16-11 lead. Kentucky fended off a Mizzou late rally when the Tigers pulled within 22-20. The Wildcats finished on a 3-1 run, behind a kill from Rumely and a block off the arms of Nzenwa, Armes and sophomore Lauren Rapp.
The Blue and White used a .378 hitting percentage in the second frame which was highlighted by a wealth of offense behind five kills each from Rapp and Nzenwa for a 25-15 win. Nzenwa charted a .714 hitting percentage in the set. UK’s defensive effort continued as junior BriAnne Sauer hit the floor for seven scoops and the Wildcats rejected six Tiger attempts.
Missouri took the first point of the second set, which was quickly followed by five straight points off the offensive attack from the Blue and White. Pavan got things going with a kill. Rapp followed suit, and then the duo combined for a rejection. Armes added to the run with a kill which was capped off by another hammer from Rapp giving UK the 5-1 early lead. Missouri pulled within 5-2, but Nzenwa’s crafty placement resulted in back-to-back points from the senior and Kentucky took an 8-3 edge. Mizzou came within 13-10, but kills from Rapp and Armes helped UK regain its five point lead. The Wildcat lead extended to seven after Pavan combined with Armes and then Rapp for two straight Big Blue blocks. Kentucky ended the set on an 8-5 run capped off by a Mendoza kill.
The third set stayed close with neither team taking more than a three point advantage. A pair of Armes’ hammers gave UK a 13-10 lead mid-way through the set, but Mizzou wouldn’t go away as they knotted the score at 14. Mendoza ripped a kill to the back line regaining the lead and the team of Pavan and Rumely combined for two straight blocks which led to a Missouri timeout. Out of the break, the Tigers rattled off two straight points to pull within one of the Cats and keeping the set close. Kentucky appeared to distance itself after an Armes kill gave them a 22-18 advantage. The Tigers however scored three straight points to once again come within a point of the Cats. The squads traded points when Nzenwa powered a ball past the Mizzou defense bringing UK to match point. Sophomore Laura Stokowski’s service ace concluded a stellar match played by the Wildcats in their 3-0 sweep of the Tigers.
“Missouri is a good team who will beat a lot of people this year,” Skinner said. “So, this was a very good win for us after a disappointing loss last night.”
The Wildcats will be back in action later this evening, as they cap off the Maryland tournament playing the host squad Terrapins at 7:30 p.m.
Complete coverage of the UK volleyball team can be found at UKathletics.com.
