March 24, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following an unprecedented sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in December the Kentucky volleyball team is set to return to action with its spring schedule which features four weekends of play. UK will first take the floor against Dayton to wrap-up the 2011 Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Clinic March 25-26.
Kentucky and the Flyers will compete in a live interactive offensive and defensive coaching situation session with coaches Craig Skinner and Dayton’s Kelly Sheffield during the final coaching session on March 26.
“We are excited about this spring,” Skinner said. “It will be about evolving and preparing this team for the fall. There is no question this type of competition will help us improve over the next few weeks.”
UK will appear in the KIVA Club College Tournament April 2 to begin live-match competition. Similar to last year’s tournament, the Wildcats will play at least three teams that Saturday in Louisville.
On April 9 the Blue and White will travel north to Columbus, Ohio, for a match with Ohio State. Kentucky and the Buckeyes played a memorable match during the 2010 fall season in which the Wildcats prevailed in four sets of action.
Finally, to wrap-up spring action Kentucky will travel to Purdue for a three-team tournament on April 16. Kentucky will play the Boilermakers who advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats will also meet the Cardinals of Ball State in the final weekend of spring competition.
Kentucky is one of just 18 teams in the nation to appear in six consecutive NCAA Tournaments. Under Skinner’s direction, the Wildcats have charted 17 or more victories for six straight seasons which is more than any other run in school history.
The Wildcats return the Southeastern Conference Libero of the Year in Stephanie Klefot and sophomore Whitney Billings a 2010 All-SEC Freshman team member. Five starters from a season ago return, and junior transfer Ashley Frazier will join the squad this spring for competition.
UK’s coaching clinic is set to feature the UK volleyball coaching staff, USA Youth National Team coach Jim Miret, Gwen Egbert who coached a 41-0 squad to the Nebraska high school state title in 2010 and Mike Lingenfelter the co-director of Munciana Volleyball Club.
Sessions will include setter training concepts, serving, warm-up strategies, efficient practices and systematic play.
Follow along with UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky volleyball team and all of UK’s 22 sports.
