UK is one up in standings heading into final weekend.

Nov. 11, 1999

LEXINGTON, Kty. -- The University of Kentucky volleyball team faces its most important match of the season on Friday as the Cats fight it out with the Georgia Lady Bulldogs for the final berth into the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Before the match, the Wildcats will honor its senior class of Terri Crabb, Katie Eiserman, Jaclyn Homan and Jennie Reed. The match will begin at 7 p.m. with the senior presentations beginning at 6:40 p.m.

This "Senior Night" promises to be an extra special one for Eiserman as the 5-10 outside hitter is entering the match two digs shy of becoming UK's all-time dig leader. Trailing former Wildcat great Ann Hall by one, Eiserman will break Hall's mark when she records dig No. 1,140.

Kentucky (13-12, 5-7 Southeastern) currently holds a one match lead over Georgia in the SEC standings despite a 3-1 UK loss in Athens on September 26. The all-time series between the Cats and Dawgs is tied at 17 wins apiece with UGA taking the last five matches in the past three years. The match is shaping up as a huge battle as both teams will playing for the opportunity to prolong their season.

"You would like this to be just like any other match, but the fact is, this match will go a long way towards determining who goes to the SEC Tournament," UK Head Coach Jona Braden said. "It is going to come down to who works harder and who wants it more. We will have to see what we are made of."

Coming into Friday's match in Lexington, Georgia (8-14, 4-8 SEC) has lost its last two matches after falling to No. 13 Clemson on Wednesday. Jim Iams' Bulldogs are led by sophomore right-side hitter Stacy Buerger. The lefty is among the SEC leaders with 4.38 kills per game.

A Kentucky victory on Friday would clinch the Wildcats 21st appearance in the SEC Tournament in 23 years of varsity volleyball, the most in the conference. Even with a loss against UGA, the Cats could still qualify for the tournament with a win on Sunday against South Carolina (13-10, 7-5 SEC) and a loss by Georgia on Sunday at Tennessee (17-11, 7-5 SEC). The Cats will meet the Gamecocks at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.