May 17, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances the Kentucky volleyball team is set to take on 13 NCAA qualifiers and host an NCAA Regional during the 2011 season, head coach Craig Skinner announced Tuesday. In a quest for an unprecedented seventh straight tournament appearance the Wildcats are faced with perhaps their toughest schedule to date.
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum was selected to play host as one of the sites for an NCAA Volleyball Regional Dec. 9-10. This marks the first time in school history that UK will host an NCAA Regional. The site is designated as one of the four hosts for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and one of the sites for the Elite Eight matchups.
UK kicks off its quest for a 2011 postseason run with a tournament in Tallahassee, Fla., on the campus of Florida State. The Blue and White will face three NCAA qualifiers in Albany, Tulsa and the host Seminoles Aug. 26-27.
Kentucky will then entertain Cincinnati on Aug. 30 for the home schedule lid-lifter. UK and the Bearcats are slated for a 7 p.m. ET start. This marks the third consecutive season the squads will meet on the hardwood with each of the previous meetings needing five-set thrillers to determine a winner.
The Blue and White are then set to host the Kentucky Classic with three NCAA qualifiers visiting Lexington Sept. 2-3. Western Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia Tech will duel with the Wildcats in a round-robin tournament.
UK will remain at home with the third consecutive season with a date against instate rival Louisville. The Cardinals and Wildcats will meet in Memorial Coliseum Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. ET. In each of the previous two seasons the home squad has captured a five-set victory.
Kentucky will wrap up non-conference action with the UK Invitational Sept. 9-10. Houston, Loyola Marymount and West Virginia are the competition for UK’s second tournament of the season.
Skinner’s squad will open Southeastern Conference action with Auburn Sept. 16 at home. Georgia concludes the conference’s opening weekend Sept. 18 with a 1:30 p.m. ET start in Memorial Coliseum.
UK’s first road matchup in league play will be at Florida Sept. 23. The Gators visit Kentucky Oct. 30 for a Sunday matinee.
The Wildcats will host the first of the home-and-home dates with Tennessee. The Lady Vols visit Memorial Coliseum Wed., Oct. 12. UK will conclude its regular season in the Volunteer State Nov. 23; both matches are set for 7 p.m. ET starts.
Kentucky is one of just 17 institutions in the nation to appear in six consecutive NCAA Tournaments. Under Skinner’s direction, UK has charted 17 or more victories in every season under his leadership. Those milestones are the longest such runs in school history.
Tickets for UK’s NCAA Regional are on sale now 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 stubs are slated for $8.
Single session reserved tickets are priced at $8 for all ages. General admission single session tickets for adults are $7, with students and seniors priced at $5. Youth single session tickets are $4.
Follow along all season with the UK volleyball team at UKathletics.com.
