Nov. 20, 1999
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Kentucky's hopes of playing in its first Southeastern
Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship game since 1990 ended
Saturday afternoon as the No. 6-seeded Cats fell to the No. 2-seeded and
23rd-ranked Arkansas Lady Razorbacks, 3-1.
Kentucky (15-14) was led by Katie Eiserman's 13 kills and a career-high 23
digs by freshman Kristen Batt. Megan Weiskircher also played a lead role
for UK with nine kills and six blocks.
Arkansas (27-5) got going early as the Lady 'Backs opened up an 8-2 game
one lead. The Cats began the match by playing hesitant but settled down on
the heels of three UA hitting errors that helped bring the score to 11-7.
Defensively UK was strong from the beginning and three team blocks helped
the Cats get within 13-10, but a late UK hitting error and a Yarleen
Santiago kill finished off the Cats in game one, 15-10.
Game two was decided by Arkansas' blocking as the Lady 'Backs shut down
the UK attack with five blocks in the game. The Cats opened up a 4-2 lead
in game two with Weiskircher playing a role in three of the points with one
kill, one block assist and one service ace. With the score 4-3, UA's
Yarleen Santiago led a charge that saw the Lady 'Backs reel off 11 straight
points on their way to a 15-5 win that UK in a 2-0 hole.
Just as they have done all season, the Cats fought hard to get back in the
match. The game three comeback came as Eiserman took it upon herself to
make sure Kentucky's day wouldn't end in game three. The senior posted
seven kills with no errors in the game. The Cats won the game 15-1, not
committing a single hitting error and hitting at a .571 clip.
Things continue well for UK into game four as the two sides battled back
and forth with no results through 13 sideouts before UK finally got on the
board. The Cats led as late as 10-7, but the Kentucky comeback died there
when Arkansas went on an eight-point run to seal the match.
April Barnhorst came in off the bench in game two to record eight kills
and no errors on 14 attacks for a game-high .571 hitting percentage.
Santiago led Arkansas in the match with a double-double of 15 kills and 15
digs.
The Cats will conclude their season next weekend when they travel to
Orlando, where they will compete at Disney's Wide World of Sports against
Marquette and South Florida on Nov. 26 and 27.
AGATE
Knoxville, Tenn. - Stokely Athletics Center - Attendance: 212
Hit %
#6 Kentucky 10 5 15 10 .158
#2 Arkansas 15 15 1 15 .200
