Aug. 25, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 13th-ranked Kentucky volleyball team needed a comeback effort to prevail 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-13, 15-10) over visiting Lipscomb, Saturday on the second day of competition at the Kentucky Classic. Junior Whitney Billings (15 kills, 11 digs) and senior Christine Hartmann(44 assists, 14 digs) posted a pair of double-doubles to lead the Wildcats to the win.
With the victory the Blue and White improve to 2-0 on the young season while Lipscomb drops to 0-2. Kentucky will face Long Beach State (1-1) at 8 p.m. ET this evening to cap off the weekend. North Carolina (1-1) and Lipscomb will face off at 6 p.m. ET for the final session of the Classic. UNC captured a five-set win over Long Beach State in the second half of the morning session.
Billings led the offensive effort with 15 kills to accompany five blocks and 11 digs on the afternoon. Hartmann passed out 44 assists and found five players for six or more kills in the win. The senior floor general added four kills of her own and chipped in four blocks. Sophomore Lauren O’Conner reached double-figures for the second consecutive outing with 11 kills to pair with a trio of blocks. Sophomore Alexandra Morgantotaled eight hammers on a team-best .400 hitting clip and posted six blocks.
Freshman Sara Schwarzwalder led the defensive effort with a team-high eight rejections to go along with seven kills. Senior Ashley Frazierhad a career-high five blocks and added six kills in the winning effort.
Senior Stephanie Klefot led the back line effort with 19 digs. Sophomore Jackie Napper chipped in with nine and junior Jessi Greenberg contributed seven. Freshman Shelby Workmanadded a kill and three scoops for the Blue and White.
UK claimed the opening set by a 25-20 margin with the Cats benefiting from four service aces and a trio of kills from the hands of both Billings and O’Conner. Lipscomb fired back with set victories in both frames one and two. The Lady Bisons earned a 25-23 win to knot the score into the break. The visitors responded with a 25-21 win in the third stanza to place the Wildcats in their first hole of the season.
Kentucky responded in stylish fashion with a dominating 25-14 fourth set win. O’Conner ignited the rally with five kills on .455 hitting and Klefot added a steadying 10 digs in the set to force the decisive fifth frame.
In the final set, Kentucky claimed a 15-10 win for the match. UK had eight kills on a match-high .353 hitting. Greenberg sparked the defensive effort with four scoops in the set. Billings led the offensive effort with three kills on .400 hitting to finish the set in style.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team.
