Oct. 26, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a closely contested match, the #19/22 Kentucky Wildcats benefited from eight serving aces and eight team blocks to shake Alabama in three sets on Sunday. UK earned set victories by the scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-21.
Kentucky (20-3, 11-1) have now strung together back-to-back seasons of 20 or more wins under Head Coach Craig Skinner.
In a match where the two teams fought admirably, Kentucky pulled out the win behind their steady force at the net and their serving. Alabama outhit UK by a .315-.289 margin, but the Wildcats were still able to sweep Alabama for the second time this season.
“Alabama played an extremely good match,” Skinner said. “I thought we really responded offensively and defensively with the eight aces and eight blocks and that was the difference in the match.”
Sophomore Sarah Mendoza led UK with 18 kills on the day, just one shy of a career high. She accounted for 20.5 points to lead the team. Senior Queen Nzenwa accounted for eight kills and a team-high four blocks. Sophomore Lauren Rapp registered six kills and two blocks on the day, as well as a team-high three aces. Junior Sarah Rumely also had three aces on the day to go along with 33 assists, four kills and five digs.
Opening up the first frame, the two teams traded points back and forth until three-straight points gave UK an 11-9 lead. The short rally began with back-to-back kills from Mendoza and sophomore Blaire Hiler. Rapp gave the Blue and White a two-point edge with an ace. Alabama pulled back to tie the score at 12, but another spurt from the Wildcats thanks to three kills from Mendoza gave them a 15-13 edge heading into the first television timeout. Out of the break, Alabama rattle off back-to-back kills to even the score at 15. The two teams traded a pair of points until the home team pulled out with two straight points to take an 18-16 lead.
A timeout by Kentucky ignited a run by the visitors, as they benefited from consecutive Bama miscues. Nzenwa laid down a hammer, followed by another ace from Rapp and the Blue and White earned a 20-19 edge forcing Alabama into a timeout. Out of the break, Alabama laid down a kill of their own and then followed that with a block to take a one-point lead. However, UK fired back behind a kill from Mendoza and an attacking error by the Crimson Tide making the score 22-21. Alabama returned the favor with a kill of their own. But, Rumely’s craftiness helped close out the set for the Blue and White as the setter came up with two huge kills of her own. The set ended on a block from the arms of Rapp and freshman Becky Pavan for a set one 25-23 win.
Kentucky claimed an 8-4 edge to start the second set. Three of those points for the Cats came on serving aces. Rumely accounted for two of them, while Mendoza added the third. Alabama pulled within 13-10, but Kentucky rattled off four of the next seven points to take a 17-12 edge. Mendoza laid down two more kills and Rapp added another in the spurt. Alabama mounted a comeback of their own to bring the score to 20-18, forcing UK to call a timeout. Mendoza put down a kill to give UK set-point at 24-19. Alabama held off and scored three points before Mendoza ended the run giving UK a 25-22 second set victory.
Nzenwa’s hot hand gave UK an early lead in the third set, as she accounted for three kills as Kentucky took a 5-2 edge. Alabama fired back and reclaimed the lead at 11-10. The home squad accounted for three of the next four points (14-11) forcing Kentucky to use its first timeout. Out of the break, Alabama maintained a three-point edge until Kentucky rattled off consecutive points to pull within one after Rumely put down a kill and Pavan turned in a solo rejection making the score 16-15 in favor of Alabama. Kentucky tied it up immediately on a hitting error by the home team. The two squads traded points back and forth, with neither really breaking free until UK claimed a two-point edge with a the score at 23-21 on an ace by Rapp. Nzenwa ended the match for Kentucky with a powerful slam with the score 25-21.
“I thought we made some big-time plays from some key players to close out the third set, and they were difference makers to help us win this in three,” Skinner said.
The Wildcats are next in action on Friday, Oct. 31. The Blue and White will host LSU beginning at 7 p.m. Follow along with the action on UKathletics.com.
