Aug. 16, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior Becky Pavan and junior Stephanie Klefot represented the University of Kentucky on the Southeastern Conference’s preseason volleyball team it was announced by the league office Tuesday. The UK duo is one of three pairs of teammates to earn early season honors as voted on by the league’s 11 coaches.
The preseason All-SEC team consists of a minimum of nine players, which are voted on by the league’s coaches. Ties are not broken. Florida, Kentucky and LSU led all schools with two selections each. In addition, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee each had a student-athlete named to the team.
Pavan is a three-year starter at middle blocker for the Blue and White. She returns as UK’s leader in career kills and blocks. The Kitchener, Ontario, native averages more than two kills per set and nearly a block per frame. She has tossed down 10 or more kills in 25 career matches and rejected five or more opponent attacks on 28 occasions in her career.
Klefot is the reigning SEC Libero of the Year after pacing the Wildcat defensive effort in her first season as the squad’s defensive engineer. The Louisville, Ky., native has posted more than 830 career scoops and is nearing the century mark for career digs. She is on pace to achieve that milestone this season and will become the school’s 11th player to tally 1,000 or more career digs.
2011 Preseason All-SEC Team
Kayla Fitterer, OH, Alabama
Jasmine Norton, OH, Arkansas
Kristy Jaeckel, OH, Florida
Kelly Murphy, S/RS, Florida
Becky Pavan, MB, Kentucky
Stephanie Klefot, DS/L, Kentucky
Desiree Elliott, MB, LSU
Michele Williams, MB, LSU
Regina Thomas, MB, Ole Miss
Kayla Jeter, OH, Tennessee
Blue/White Scrimmage set for Sunday, 3 p.m. ET
Fans will have a chance to come out and see the first glimpse of the 2011 edition of the UK volleyball team on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. ET in the annual Blue-White scrimmage.
Head coach Craig Skinner’s squad will compete in an intra-squad contest and it is open to the public.
Parking is available in the “E” lots surrounding Memorial Coliseum. Fans are asked to pay close attention to parking instructions, as incoming Kentucky students will be arriving to campus this weekend.
Kentucky’s opening home contest is Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET. UK will take on Cincinnati to begin three consecutive weeks of action in the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum. In the 31-year history of UK volleyball the Wildcats own a winning percentage of .700 in the legendary building.
UK Receiving Votes in AVCA Poll to Being 2011 Season
Following its sixth-consecutive season of advancing to the NCAA tournament and returning a total of five starters the Kentucky volleyball team was among those receiving votes in the opening American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
This marks the third consecutive season the Blue and White are either ranked or receiving votes to open the season.
Eight of UK’s 2011 opponents are among those ranked or receiving votes to begin the year including: Florida, Tulsa, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State, Louisville, Cincinnati and Western Kentucky.
2011 AVCA Preseason Poll
1) Penn State
2) Southern California
3) California
4) Texas
5) Nebraska
6) Stanford
7) Washington
8) Illinois
9) Florida
10) Hawai’i
11) UCLA
12) Minnesota
13) Purdue
14) Northern Iowa
15) Colorado State
16) Oklahoma
17) Duke
18) Iowa State
19) Dayton
20) San Diego
21) Ohio State
22) Long Beach State
23) Tulsa
24) Michigan
24) Tennessee
Receiving Votes: Pepperdine, LSU, Oregon, Missouri, Florida State, Indiana, St. Mary’s (Ca.), Louisville, Arizona, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Miami (FL), Clemson, Wichita State, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Cal Poly, Michigan State, Northwestern, Western Kentucky
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams.
