Nov. 13, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky volleyball team is set to host No. 15 LSU as the squad celebrates Senior Day honoring Blaire Hiler and Lauren Rapp on Sunday. First serve is slated for a 1:30 p.m. ET start.
Kentucky (15-12, 9-8) secured its sixth straight season with at least 15 victories behind a balanced performance both offensively and defensively. UK swept Arkansas 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) with four players reaching double-figures in the kills’ column and limiting the Razorbacks to a mere .082 hitting percentage for the match.
Setter Christine Hartmann notched her third consecutive double-double effort in leading the UK attack. Hartmann passed out 37 assists while adding a match-high 11 digs for the achievement.
Prior to the match tomorrow, Kentucky will honor the senior class of Hiler and Rapp. The duo has been a part of 92 victories, which ranks as the 14th highest total of any class in school history. The pair also owns a .734 winning percentage, which is the fifth-best winning total in school allure. Together they have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, made a Sweet 16 appearance and captured an SEC Eastern Division crown in 2009.
UK will also honor two very important members of the Wildcat family in team managers Dana Dahlmann and Ryan Suckow.
LSU is currently ranked as the No. 15 team in the country behind a 23-2 overall record and a 14-2 mark in league action after a 3-1 victory at No. 21 Tennessee Friday. The Tigers are led by 4.15 kills per frame from Angela Bensend. LSU’s high-octane offense tosses down 14.53 kills per stanza on .273 hitting. Brittany Johnson dishes out 10.80 assists per set as four players average 2.25 kills or more.
UK leads the all-time series with the Tigers by a 28-22 margin. LSU snapped a four-match winning streak by the Wildcats in 2010’s earlier meeting.In October’s showdown in Baton Rouge, La., Rapp notched 16 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double, while freshman Whitney Billings charted a career-high 17 digs but it was not enough as the No. 15 LSU Tigers notched a 3-0 victory over Kentucky in Baton Rouge, La.
Kentucky had another outstanding performance from Rapp who had totaled 16 or more kills in consecutive matches. Rapp tossed down her 16 kills on a .455 hitting percentage. With 10 digs it marked the first double-double for UK’s senior since totaling 12 kills and 12 digs against Ohio State on Sept. 4.
Billings had a career-high 17 scoops to lead the match. She chipped in with six kills for the Wildcats. Hartmann charted 28 assists and added seven digs for the Wildcats, while sophomore Stephanie Klefot added 11 digs.
Follow along all season long with the Wildcats at UKathletics.com.
Match Promotions
* Senior Day – arrive early to help recognize UK’s graduating seniors!
* Girl Scouts Day
* NKYVC Day
* FREE admission with football ticket stub from UK vs. Vanderbilt game
* FREE UK sunglasses for the first 50 UK fans
* Kids Day
* Kids, arrive early to play on the inflatable games on the concourse, get your faces painted, and get your picture taken with Scratch!
