The University of Kentucky volleyball team gets its much-anticipated 2000 season off to its unofficial start tomorrow, Aug. 26, with the annual Blue and White inter-squad scrimmage. The Wildcats will be split into two squads that will face-off at 2 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

"Tomorrow will be a chance for our players to put the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of their game on display as they discover more about themselves as a team," head coach Jona Braden said. "Its a higher level practice for us to firm up those things that we have been working on as we prepare to start the season."

One player who wont be ready to go for the Cats is redshirt freshman Julie Davis, out with a knee injury suffered early in training camp.

"Its a shame Julie wont be able to go for us tomorrow," Braden said. "I was hoping she would get a chance to play in front of a home crowd this season, but she has a little way to go before she is healthy enough to participate again."

Saturdays match will serve as a dress rehearsal for the teams regular season-opening trip to Charlottesville, Va. and the University of Virginia Invitational next weekend, Sept. 1-2. At the UVA invite, UK will play three matches in two days as they meet Georgetown University (D.C.), William & Mary and Virginia.

The Wildcats return home for their official home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 5 against the state rival Louisville Cardinals. The Cats and Cards split a pair of matches last season with each team winning on its home court. UK holds a 26-14 all-time lead in the series with U of L.