Sept. 30, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After putting together a 10-match winning streak and an unblemished mark in Southeastern Conference action, UK will travel to Tennessee to take on one of its biggest rivals Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Adding fuel to the fire, Kentucky has won the last four meetings between the two schools.
The UK (13-2, 4-0) volleyball team is just a mere 15 matches into the 2008 season, but they have already achieved some remarkable things. The 10-match winning streak is the longest since 1993. UK is 4-0 in the SEC for just the first time since 1996. Kentucky opened with sweeps of SEC foes in the first weekend of play for the first time since 1989.
Kentucky’s defense was the difference maker as they returned home with two road victories in the SEC. UK tallied 21 blocks for the weekend, including 14 against LSU. Setter Sarah Rumely has done a tremendous job in finding her attackers as five players averaged over two kills per frame.
Tennessee enters the match with an 8-5, 3-1 record overall. The Vols fell to LSU in four sets, while defeating Georgia in three this last weekend. They are led by Milan Clarke’s 2.90 kills per set. Two players dish out four or more assists in a frame, while Chloe Goldman paces the defense with over four digs a set. Tennessee also excels in blocking averaging 2.52 per set, compared with just 1.93 of their opponents.
The Blue and White hold an overall 39-23 record over their border state rivals. UK has also won the last four meetings between the two schools, which began with an upset of then-ranked #18 Tennessee in five sets back in October of 2006. Prior to that the Lady Vols had claimed 15 of the last 20 meetings dating back to 1996.
First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Complete coverage and up-to-date news on the UK volleyball team can be found at UKathletics.com.
