Sept. 1, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky volleyball team is set to host the Kentucky Classic in the first of consecutive home tournaments Friday and Saturday this week. UK will welcome Western Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia Tech to the field for a round-robin tournament beginning with Virginia Tech and Ohio taking the floor Friday at 5 p.m. ET. The WKU-UK match will follow approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the opening match.
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| Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky Fri., Sept. 2 – 7:00 p.m. ET Lexington, Ky. Memorial Coliseum UK Match Notes  |
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UK (2-2) is in the midst of a 10-match home stand. The Wildcats dropped its season home opener to Cincinnati Tuesday night and are looking to rebound in front of a home crowd. Freshman Jackie Napperwas tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week following last weekend’s FSU Invitational where she averaged more than 2.50 digs per set.
Sophomore Whitney Billings’ broke out with a three-block and three-ace performance to go along with four kills and five blocks against Cincinnati. Senior Becky Pavan led the kill output for the third time in four matches, while junior Stephanie Klefotposted a match-high 18 digs. Klefot currently leads the Southeastern Conference with an average of 5.27 scoops per stanza.
UK’s opening match of the weekend is against intrastate rival Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky enters the weekend owning a 3-0 clip and the Lady Hilltoppers are receiving votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. WKU is led by a pair of players averaging 3.00 kills per set in Tiffany Elmore and Lindsay Williams. Kentucky owns an all-time 12-4 record against the Lady Hilltoppers. The last meeting came in 2007 with UK earning a 3-1 win on the road.
Kentucky take the court with Ohio at 11 a.m. ET Saturday. Ohio opened the season with a 2-1 record, with the lone loss coming to SEC ranked foe Tennessee in the lid lifter. The Bobcats earned wins over Maryland and Villanova to cap off the weekend. Ohio is paced by 3.53 team assists per set led by 1.73 from the hands of Lexie Hartnett. UK is 4-1 all-time against the Bobcats which include a 3-2 win on neutral ground in 2006.
The final match of the Kentucky Classic Tournament will be between the host Wildcats and Virginia Tech Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET. Virginia Tech rounds out the field for the Kentucky Classic as the Hokies enter the weekend with an unblemished 3-0 mark. The Hokies have an impressive offense that posts 13.3 kills per set led by four players with 2.44 or more in a stanza. UK owns a 3-0 mark against Virginia Tech in the all-time series with the last meeting being a 3-1 win by the Wildcats in 1999.
Live stats will be provided at UKathletics.com for all six matches. Live video streaming will be provided for matches when Kentucky is appearing.
Parking is available in all surrounding E-Lots (Employee Lots) adjacent to Memorial Coliseum, beginning two and a half hours prior to any home UK volleyball match. See the parking diagram for reference to these locations.
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum will play host to the NCAA Regionals Dec. 9-10. UK is one of four sites selected for Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups with one team advancing to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, from the Lexington Region. Tickets are on sale now through the UK Ticket Office.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams.
Kentucky Classic Tournament Schedule
Friday, Sept. 2
Ohio vs. Virginia Tech – 5 p.m.
WKU at Kentucky – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3
Ohio at Kentucky – 11 a.m.
WKU vs. Virginia Tech – 1 p.m.
WKU vs. Ohio – 5:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech at Kentucky – 7:30 p.m.
