April 11, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky volleyball team continued to stay in hot in spring action rolling up two more victories in the annual spring tournament hosted by the Wildcats at Memorial Coliseum Saturday. The Blue and White captured wins over Marshall and Cincinnati in today’s tournament to move its spring record to 8-0.
UK invited Marshall and Cincinnati for a three-team round-robin tournament Saturday afternoon. Up first for Kentucky was the Thundering Herd.
Head Coach Craig Skinner’s squad wasted little time in rolling to a 25-17, 25-9 and 25-22 win against Marshall.
In that match sophomore Sarah Mendoza paced the Blue and White with eight kills on .548 hitting. She also added six digs and a pair of assists. Sophomore Lauren Rapp and junior Brooke Bartek each posted five kills in the win. Kentucky’s defense was superb as the team combined for 10 rejections. Freshman Gretchen Giesler led the wall at the net with four block assists.
After watching Cincinnati defeat Marshall in the second contest of the day, it was UK’s turn to take on the Big East foe.
UK needed a comeback effort in the first set nipping the Bearcats by a 27-25 margin in the opening frame. The Wildcats, however, responded to the slight adversity and captured the following sets with 25-17 and 25-21 wins to go the entire spring without dropping a set.
Mendoza once again led the offense with 10 kills in the win. She achieved a double-double effort by adding 10 digs. Freshman Ann Armes chipped in with nine kills and Bartek added eight in the winning effort. Junior setter Sarah Rumely posted 25 assists, two kills and a team-high seven blocks. UK’s defense was once again its biggest factor turning back 15 Cincinnati attacks.
For the match Kentucky combined to hit an impressive .301 with 45 kills. Nine players had at least two hammers in the win.
Freshman Christine Hartmann tallied 11 assists in the third stanza and added two kills and a pair of digs.
Kentucky returns to action next week in the SEC Coaches Beach Tournament. The Blue and White will send five teams to the 11-school tournament.Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for more information on the Kentucky volleyball team.
