April 2, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Current University of Kentucky women’s soccer player Kennedy Collier will be singing the national anthem prior to the national semifinal games at the 2015 Men’s Basketball Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday night. She will be joined by three other student-athletes from the participating schools to make up the quartet performing the anthem.
Collier, a junior from Danville, Ky., was selected by the University of Kentucky to perform the national anthem as part of the NCAA’s effort to have current student-athletes perform prior to the national semifinal games on Saturday. The national anthem will come prior to the session’s first game featuring Duke and Michigan State slightly before 6 p.m. ET on TBS.
“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be able to sing the national anthem at the Final Four,” Collier said. “It’s great that our men’s basketball team has made it this far in the NCAA Tournament, and I’m thrilled to be able to watch them continue their pursuit of perfection in Indianapolis. I want to thank our athletics director Mitch Barnhart and my coach Jon Lipsitz for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to Saturday night.”
Collier appeared in three matches this season for the UK women’s soccer team, including scoring her second career goal in a win over Francis Marion. In her three-year career, the forward and defender has played in 18 games, tallying 16 shots, scoring two goals and collecting four points.
“We are excited for Kennedy to perform the national anthem at the Final Four this weekend,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “Seeing our student-athletes achieve at a high level off the field is always special and this is a unique opportunity for her.”
“I am so proud of Kennedy,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “Our program here is not only about soccer, but goes way beyond the field of play and into all facets of these young women’s lives. These moments are cherished by us all and we are so excited for Kennedy.”
Duke vs. Michigan State will tip at 6:07 p.m. ET, with Kentucky vs. Wisconsin slated for an 8:49 p.m. tip.
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
