Nov. 15, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a dominating victory Friday night over South Carolina, Kentucky will welcome #12 Florida to Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. The match is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Kentucky trails the first-place Gators by just a half of a game in the SEC standings. This is the second meeting of the season for the two squads, as the teams met in Gainesville in early October. Florida won the match by a 3-2 margin, after taking an early 2-0 set lead.Fans can use their Men’s Basketball ticket against VMI or their Football ticket against Vanderbilt to receive free admission to the UK-Florida volleyball match.
Sunday is a “Beach Party” in Memorial Coliseum with the first 100 fans receiving free UK flip flops. Fifty lucky fans will also win a UK beach towel. Additionally, it is Girl Scouts Day at the match along with UK Children’s Hospital Day.
Friday against South Carolina, Kentucky got tremendous play at the net from its middle blockers and right-side hitter. The Blue and White registered 12 team blocks, with freshman Becky Pavan and sophomore Lauren Rapp leading the way. Florida was also in action Friday night, claiming a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The Gators have won the last 38 meetings between the two teams, and the last UK victory came in 1990.
The 25th-ranked Kentucky volleyball’s valiant comeback effort against the ninth-ranked Florida Gators came up just short as they fell 3-2, at the O’Connell Center on October 11. Florida took an early 2-0 set lead and with their backs against the wall, the Wildcats fought back to force a fifth and deciding set, but the home squad prevailed for the victory.
Florida claimed the match by the scores of 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 21-25, 15-8. The loss snapped a 12-match winning streak by the Wildcats. Kentucky got a tremendous effort from Winter Park, Fla., native Sarah Mendoza who led the team with 16 kills and 11 digs for the fourth double-double of her career.
Junior Sarah Rumely added a double-double match of her own with 33 assists and 12 digs. Junior BriAnne Sauer paced the UK defense with 20 scoops, but the Wildcats managed just nine blocks on the night well off-their season average. Freshman Becky Pavan added 10 kills and a team-high three blocks. Sophomore Lauren Rapp pitched in with nine kills and eight digs.
The match will also be broadcast live on WGVN 1580 AM with Dick Gabriel and Kathy DeBoer on the call.
Live stats and free video streaming of the match with the Gators is available at UK’s official website UKathletics.com.
