Updated September 29, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum has been selected to play host to one of the four sites for an NCAA Volleyball Regional in 2011 it was announced by the NCAA. This marks the first time in school history that Kentucky will host an NCAA Regional.
Dec. 9, 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN3.com)
No. 8 Penn State vs. No. 9 UCLA
Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN3.com)
No. 1 Texas vs. Kentucky
Dec. 10, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Regional Final
The NCAA Regional site is a designated location for one of the eight NCAA Sweet Sixteen matchups and then one of the four Elite Eight matches.
“We are really excited to be hosting one of the four 2011 Regional’s,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said. “To be selected through the bid process of the NCAA, shows a lot of respect for our program and recent success. Our administration has been very proactive in hosting NCAA events and I want to thank them for their willingness to put on an event of this magnitude.”
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum is one of four locations selected for the 2011 NCAA Tournament. The other host sites include the Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota, the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida and the Honolulu/Stan Sherriff Center at the University of Hawaii. The dates of the matches will take place on Dec. 9-10, 2011.
Tickets are now on sale through the UK Ticket Office. All-Session Tickets are reserved for all ages at $14. General Admission tickets for adults are priced at $12 and students or seniors’ general admission is slated for $8.
Single session tickets are priced at $8 for reserved for all ages. General admission for adults is priced at $7, with students and seniors priced at $5. Youth single session tickets are $4.
For tickets or more information feel free to call, 1-800-928-CATS.
Memorial Coliseum has played host to the NCAA First and Second Rounds in two of the last three seasons. In total UK has hosted the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA tournament on eight occasions beginning in 1983.
“The sport of volleyball is continuing to grow in popularity and that is very evident in the support the Kentucky fan base has shown for Coach Skinner and the program,” said Kentucky senior women’s administrator Lisa Peterson. “Our team has continued to improve each season and our fan base has grown with that improvement. This is a great sign of respect not only for our program, but for the dedicated staff that spends countless hours in preparing to host NCAA events.”
The Wildcats have made six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and are one of just 18 schools in the country to achieve that feat. Skinner is the first coach in school history to lead his team to six post-season appearances. In 2009, Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Regional in Minneapolis for the first time under Skinner after winning two matches in Lexington – including an upset of the tournament’s No. 13 overall seed in Oregon.
The four regional sites for the 2010 season include Bank of America Arena at the University of Washington, Rec Hall at Penn State, Gregory Gymnasium at the University of Texas and the University of Dayton Arena at Dayton on Dec. 10-11, 2010.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding the UK volleyball team.
