Sept. 16, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The University of Kentucky volleyball team will begin its conference schedule beginning Friday, Sept. 19th when it plays host to Alabama at 7 p.m. Eleven matches into the season, UK has achieved some notable accomplishments.
UK Team Notes
Kentucky is 31-6 in the past three seasons at home in Memorial Coliseum, including 7-1 this season.
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner now holds an all-time record of 67-36 overall, the fifth most wins in school history.
Under Skinner’s directon, the Wildcats are 33-14 against teams not comprising the Southeastern Conference.
UK swept three consecutive opponents (Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee State) for the longest streak since sweeping four opponents Aug. 31-Sept. 4, 2007.
The Wildcats are in the midst of a six-match winning streak, the longest consecutive string of wins since the Blue and White put together a six-match streak Aug. 25-Sept. 4, 2007.
Kentucky earned two tournament victories during their non-conference schedule. UK claimed titles at the Maryland Tournament and at home at the UK Invitational.
In winning two tournaments, Kentucky also had two players earn MVP honors: Queen Nzenwa (Maryland) and Lauren Rapp (UK Invitational).
Heading into SEC play, the Cats rank first in the conference in assists (12.69), kills (13.92) and blocks (2.59).
UK also ranks 23rd nationally in kills (13.92), 30th in blocks (2.59), 32nd in hitting percentage (.268), and 37th in assists (12.56).
UK Individual Notes
Junior Sarah Rumely has moved into fourth place all-time at Kentucky with 3,426 assists for her career. Rumely has also taken over ninth in the UK record books for service aces with 108.
Senior Queen Nzenwa holds UK’s record for block assists and now has 472 for her career. She also ranks third all-time at Kentucky with a .336 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Sarah Mendoza and sophomore Lauren Rapp have each reached double-figure kills in eight of Kentucky’s 11 matches this season.
Rapp, Mendoza and Rumely have each tallied a double-double this season. Rapp and Mendoza have both registered two double-doubles, while Rumely leads the team with three matches with double-doubles.
Rumely ranks first in the SEC averaging 10.82 assists per set.
Junior libero BriAnne Sauer is tops in the conference with 4.33 digs per frame.
Rumely has now registered over 50 matches in her career with 40 or more assists.
Sauer tallied her 10th career match with 20 or more digs against Albany.
Freshman Becky Pavan earned a .750 hitting percentage against Western Carolina, the highest percentage of the season for a UK player with more than five kills in a match.
