Aug. 9, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 2011 season of Kentucky volleyball officially began Tuesday morning with the squad taking to the hardwood for the first practice of the season.

The Wildcats spent Monday participating in administrative meetings and receiving its gear for the 2011 campaign. Tuesday marked the squad’s first action on the court as all 14 players on the roster for the upcoming season combined for a morning session before returning in the afternoon for an additional workout.

UK will enjoy nearly three weeks of training before traveling to Tallahassee, Fla., for the first weekend of the season at the Florida State Invitational. Kentucky will take on Albany at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 for the first match of the season.

Kentucky’s opening home match is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET. UK welcomes Cincinnati to Memorial Coliseum for the home opener. The Bearcats and Wildcats have gone toe-to-toe in each of the previous two seasons with the matches needing five sets to determine a winner. In its 30-year history, Kentucky owns a winning percentage in the friendly confines of the Coliseum that tops out at more than .700.

The Blue and White return four starters and the 2010 SEC Libero of the Year in Stephanie Klefot. UK is looking to continue its streak of NCAA Tournament runs after becoming one of just 18 teams in the nation to appear in six-consecutive a season ago. UK has posted six straight seasons of 17 or more victories, one of just three Southeastern Conference teams to achieve that feat.

Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams.