UK ATHLETICS

News Release

LEXINGTON — The No. 7 Kentucky Volleyball team will begin its 2019 competition season in Salt Lake City this weekend, competing in the Utah Classic hosted by the University of Utah at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

 The Wildcats will play two matches on opening day, against No. 23 Cal Poly (Noon ET) and (RV) Utah (9:30 p.m. ET) before concluding the three-match opening weekend vs. St. Mary’s (4:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday afternoon.

 All three games will be live streamed through the Utah Utes athletics website, with Saturday night’s showcase match vs. Utah (9:30 p.m. ET) shown live on the PAC-12 Network Utah affiliates and on the PAC-12 Network website with a subscription.

 Kentucky is ranked No. 7 in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches’ Association poll, and was also picked to finish first in the Southeastern Conference by the league coaches for a third-consecutive season. The Wildcats return 2018 All-Americans Leah Edmond and Madison Lilley in addition on honorable mention standout and 2019 SEC Libero of the Year, Gabby Curry.

 Cal Poly and Kentucky are the two ranked teams that enter this weekend in the Utah Classic, with the hosts Utah sitting just on the cusp of the top-25. Saint Mary’s was picked by the West Coast Conference coaches to finish fifth in the league this season.