Volleyball Set to Host Bluegrass Battle
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 15th-ranked University of Kentucky volleyball team begins its 2015 campaign on Friday evening, hosting the Bluegrass Battle sponsored by Kennedy Bookstore in Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats open the season with No. 19 Michigan State on Friday at 7 p.m. before playing IUPUI (10:30 a.m.) and Little Rock (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
The Wildcats have won 12 of their last 13 home openers, including winning nine of ten in Memorial Coliseum under head coach Craig Skinner. This weekend marks the first time that Kentucky will play both IUPUI and Little Rock in program history, while UK will play Michigan State for the fourth time under Skinner.
Check out below for all of your need-to-know information for the Bluegrass Battle:
Media Center:
Live stats vs. Michigan State | Live stats vs. IUPUI | Live stats vs. Little Rock
Listen live on WLAP – 1580 AM with Dick Gabriel and Mandy Robbe
Kentucky Notes | Michigan State Notes | Little Rock Notes
Listen live on WLAP – 1580 AM with Dick Gabriel and Mandy Robbe
Kentucky Notes | Michigan State Notes | Little Rock Notes
Welcome Back Students, Faculty and Staff Night vs. Michigan State:
To celebrate Friday night’s matchup with No. 19 Michigan State the first 150 students and staff will receive a free UK volleyball journal. One lucky fan will receive a journal signed by the 2015 volleyball team along with a $100 Nike shopping spree!
Don’t Forget Your Chance to Win a FREE Moped:
Upon arrival, fans should head to the marketing gazebo upon entry to Memorial Coliseum and fill out a form for a chance to win a free moped. Anyone can enter to win the moped and additional prizes throughout the match. Fans must register the barcode located on the back of the key tags given away at the marketing gazebo. In order to be placed in the drawing, fans must attend at least seven matches. For each additional match attended, that fan will earn one extra entry into the drawing. The moped winner will be selected at the Auburn match on the Nov. 27.
Gameday Parking:
We are pleased to offer new parking opportunities this season. In addition to the E lots around the Craft Center and Coal Lodge, fans have the option of parking in the Liden Walk E lots which are across Rose Street from the Singletary Center for the Arts, the E/CS-7 lots near the College of Education off of S. Upper Street, and the Rose Street Garage (PS-2) located on Rose Street, south of the Coliseum with an entrance on Hilltop Avenue near W.T. Young Library. These lots are available for all matches starting three hours before first serve. For our marquee match-ups, including contests with Michigan State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Florida, and Texas A&M, the Limestone Street Garage (PS-5) will also be available. Fans are reminded to never park in lots or spaces designated R for residential and that the Student Center lot is no longer an option due to construction. Parking is limited and fans are encouraged to arrive early.
Bergren Tabbed to Preseason All-SEC Team:
Senior Morgan Bergren was named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team as voted on by the league’s coaches, while the Wildcats were tapped to finish third in the league standings. Bergren led UK with 1,291 assists in 2014, the second most in a single season in program history in the 25-point rally scoring era. The Muncie, Ind., native directed the UK offense to a .272 hitting percentage and a Southeastern Conference-best 14.25 kills per set, both the highest totals by the Wildcats since 2009. Along with earning American Volleyball Coaches Association second-team All-America accolades as well as All-Region honors, she was an All-SEC selection as a junior. Bergren earned SEC Player of the Week honors on Oct. 6, 2014 after she led UK to a .306 attacking percentage with six players averaging 1.29 kills per set or better in Kentucky’s wins over Alabama and No. 21 Texas A&M. Bergren had 43 or more assists in each win and added 11 kills on .579 hitting with no errors.
Wildcats Ranked in the Preseason Again:
For a program-record fourth consecutive year, the Kentucky volleyball team will begin the season ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason top-25 after the Wildcats earned a No. 15 ranking in the poll. UK’s spot in the top 25 poll marks the sixth time in the last seven years in which the Wildcats have earned a place in the preseason poll, all under 11th-year head coach, Craig Skinner. The preseason ranking marks the 77th time under Skinner the Wildcats have been ranked in the preseason, weekly or final poll by the AVCA. Kentucky debuted at No. 17 in 2013 and has been ranked in the top 25 every week since then.
Single-match and season tickets for the 2015 campaign are on sale now. Season tickets begin at $35, and single-game ticket information can be found here, or by calling the UK Ticket Office at 800-928-CATS.
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum will play host to the NCAA Regionals Dec. 11-12. UK is one of four sites selected for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups with one team advancing to the Final Four in Omaha, Neb., from the Lexington Region. This marks the third time in five seasons Memorial Coliseum will host this premier volleyball event.
For the latest on the Kentucky volleyball team, follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
