Volleyball Opens SEC Play on Sunday against No. 18 Kentucky
9/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 28, 2013
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. - After defeating the Alabama State Hornets in straight sets on Tuesday, Alabama (12-2/0-0 SEC) will enter Southeastern Conference play riding a 10-match winning streak. The Crimson Tide opens SEC play on Sunday, Sept. 29, against the No. 18 ranked Kentucky Wildcats (9-3/1-0 SEC), with first serve scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT from Foster Auditorium.
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Live Audio/Video: RollTide.com
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GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
• Present your Ole Miss football ticket stub and receive free admission to the match.
• Youth Day: All kids 12 and younger who wear their youth team jerseys will receive $1 admission.
• Kids Day: First 100 kids 12 and younger will receive a free hot dog, drink and face tattoo!
• Big Al's Kids Club Day: Free admission for all Big Al's Kids Club members (must present membership credential)
• Postgame autographs by the entire Alabama volleyball team.
• Poster making - All fans in attendance can create their own rally sign!
Alabama enters the match against Kentucky with a 10-match winning streak following Tuesday's win over the Hornets. The last loss of the season for the Tide came on Sept. 6, in a three-set loss to Houston Baptist in the FIU Classic. Entering the weekend, Alabama is third in the SEC and 11th in the country with a .281 hitting percentage. The Tide is also fourth in assists per set (13.41) and kills per set (14.31), while ranking seventh in the SEC with 1.29 aces per set.
Leading the offensive attack for the Crimson Tide is redshirt freshman Krystal Rivers, who leads the Tide with 179 kills (3.51 kps) and ranks third in the SEC and 11th nationally with a .452 hitting percentage. Alabama is the only team in the SEC with three players ranked in the top-20 in kills, as Laura Steiner adds 3.41 kills per set (13th in the SEC) and freshman outside hitter Brittany Thomas adds 3.22 kills per set (15th in the SEC). Sophomore setter Sierra Wilson is second in the conference and seventh nationally with 11.84 assists per set. Kryssi Daniels is 14th in the SEC with a team-leading 3.16 digs per set.
Kentucky enters the match with a No. 18 national ranking by the AVCA and is 9-3, 1-0 SEC, following a 3-0 win at Auburn on Friday night to open SEC play. The Wildcats are averaging 13.75 kills per set, while hitting .224 for the season and hold opponents to a .178 mark. UK averages 2.42 blocks per set.
Leading the way for Kentucky is Whitney Billings with 3.64 kills per set, which ranks fifth in the SEC. Billings is second on the team with 2.95 digs per set, trailing Jackie Napper's team-high 3.70 digs per set. Setter Morgan Bergren is sixth in the SEC with 10.64 assists per set. Alexandra Morgan leads the team with 1.11 blocks per set and Sara Schwarzwalder chips in with 0.84 bps.
Sunday's match will mark the 39th meeting all-time between the two schools. Kentucky holds a 24-14 advantage in the all-time series. Alabama is 8-12 all-time when playing the Wildcats in Tuscaloosa.
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