May 18, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky will open the season with the annual Kentucky Classic at Memorial Coliseum and go on to compete with six 2008 NCAA participants to highlight the 2009 Kentucky volleyball schedule, announced Monday by head coach Craig Skinner.
Kentucky (26-6) captured second place in the Southeastern Conference overall standings in 2008, their best finish since taking second in 1990. UK’s 26 victories in 2008 were the seventh most in school allure. Under Skinner the Blue and White has increased its win total in each of his four seasons at the helm.
For the fourth consecutive season, Kentucky will play a home-and-home series with each Southeastern Conference team in lieu of a league tournament.
The Wildcats begin their season with the Kentucky Classic–its only home tournament this season. UK will travel for two premier tournaments away from the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum in the following weeks. Kentucky kicks off its 2009 campaign Aug. 28-28 when they welcome Northwestern, Western Carolina and Florida International for the opening weekend of the season.
UK will then travel to Bloomington for the Indiana Adidas Classic hosted by the Indiana Hoosiers. In addition to the host team, UK will also match-up with Murray State and UT-Martin Sept. 4-5.
Following its first road action of the season Kentucky will host NCAA tournament participant Cincinnati at Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 8.
Immediately following the match-up with the Bearcats the Blue and White will travel cross country to the Kansas State tournament. Kansas State, Purdue and Portland are the opponents UK will face in its final round-robin tournament in the early portion of the schedule Sept. 11-12.
Prior to the always grueling SEC slate, UK is set to renew its annual meeting with in-state rival Louisville. Kentucky will travel west on I-64 to Louisville and face the Cardinals Sept. 16.
Kentucky will open the Southeastern Conference season on the road in Baton Rouge with a single-match with LSU on Sept. 20.
The Blue and White open its home SEC slate with Ole Miss (Sept. 25) and Arkansas (Sept. 27). UK faces reigning-SEC champs Florida in Gainesville on Oct. 2 before welcoming the Gators to Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 22 in the final home match of the season.
Kentucky wraps up its 2009 regular season at Tennessee on Nov. 25th in Knoxville.The Blue and White return 10 letterwinners from its top-25 ranked squad from a season ago including All-American and SEC Player of the Year Sarah Rumely.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for complete coverage of the Kentucky volleyball team.
