Lady Cat’s Rock

What a game yesterday at Memorial Coliseum between the Lady Cat’s and the visitors from SC.  The Lady Cat’s were rude hostesses to the visitors and sent them home very embarrassed by the final score of 71-50.

What a turnaround from the earlier loss this year to that same team on their home court, but it wasn’t just this game that makes the team, fans and administration walk around with a smile on their faces.  The overall record for the year is good enough to warrant a #16 national ranking and would probably be higher if they hadn’t come from out of nowhere this year.  They have won enough games in the SEC that they can finish as high as #2 in the SEC (how long has that been).  Another reason to smile really big is the fact they never lost a home game all year.

For the Lady Cat’s to not lose a home game in the SEC is remarkable because the SEC has the best teams in the nation top to bottom every year and the Lady Cat’s took on all comers and sent them home carrying an “L” with them.

The game was the home finale for two of our beloved seniors, Ldyia Watkins and Amani Franklin.  It seems like only yesterday when we first listened to their names being called and now they have concluded their careers before the record home crowd for the year.  What a befitting send off for them because they have battled injuries and played through pain all year to help make this teams record one of the best ever at UK.

It has been since the 1980-81 season, 29 years, since they have had such bragging rights which brings me to a major point I want to make.  Mitch Barnhart has been vilified by many ever since he came to UK, but the naysayers have been silenced, at least for the time being.  His devotion to all the sports at UK is remarkable and we don’t hear too much about most of them, because they don’t have the following that football, basketball and to a lesser extent baseball do.

His hiring of Matthew Mitchell was a gutsy move, because Matthew had limited head coaching experience at Morehead State.  However, Barnhart already knew Matthew’s devotion and passion for the game when he was an assistant at UK, but it takes more than that to be a successful coach.  You have to be able to plan the “X’s & O’s”, be a master teacher in practice, and be a master recruiter.   He has been all those things, but he has been successful in getting the ladies to buy into his passion and belief that UK basketball belongs at the top of the #1 conference in all of Basketball.

The ladies played the games with heart, Matthew coached them well and Barnhart made a good decision.   All of them deserve recognition for what they have accomplished thus far and the groundwork has been laid for many more smiley faces in the future!

catfan4life

Lady Cats go to 10-0

The Lady Cats moved to a school record 10-0 after a 101-67 pounding of the Lady Cards. Forcing 38 turnovers and seemingly scoring at will  the Cats had four players score in double figures led by junior All-Southeastern Conference forward Victoria Dunlap’s game-high 27 points, eight steals, nine rebounds and four blocks. Point guard Amber Smith had a career-high 19 points and dished out a game-high five assists. A’dia Mathies had 15 points and Carlie Morrow added 12 points as everyone who played scored.

Add the lady Cats 10 wins to the Cats 11 and we are having the best start of any program in the nation.

Kentucky Sports off to 5-0 this season

The womens Volleyball Cats won 3 games with wins over FIU, Northwestern and Western Carolina in the Kentucky Classic tournament.

In addition to the wins it was announced that the Volleyball Cats will be on national TV six times this year. Meaning the 18th ranked Cats are going to get more national exposure for the program.

Added to the two wins so far this season for the Soccer Cats it puts Kentucky off to a 5-0 start so far this season.

Cats Pluck Cards

The womens soccer Cats started the pluck Louisville year off with a 1-0 win. Stellar defense and Giuleana Lopez scored on a header off a corner kick at the 18:58 mark. The shutout was their first against the Cards since 1996. The Wildcats now lead the all-time series with the Cardinals 6-1-1.

Help the Womens Soccer Cats Pluck the Cards

The womens Soccer Cats opened the season with a 2-1 win over Cincinnatti. Down 1-0 at the start of the second half they scored 3 minutes into the period when Giuleana Lopez found Samantha Au in transition, lofting a ball over the Cincinnati defense that Au tracked down and fired into the upper right corner of the goal tying the game. Nine minutes later the scored again when Jenna Goblirsch was left alone 25 yards out at the top right of the 18-yard box and buried a shot in the upper left corner of the goal.

The Wildcats next game is Saturday, Aug. 29 when they play Louisville. The game will be a “Blue Out” and all fans will receive admission for just $1.

Casper dies from injures

Jenni Casper, the record-setting former University of Kentucky volleyball player injured in a car accident early Saturday, has died.

Casper, 24, was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. Sunday by UK Hospital staff members.

She had been critically injured at 1:43 a.m. Saturday, when, according to police, she was driving on Chinoe Road and apparently lost control of her car negotiating a curve near Fontaine Road. Casper’s car hit a tree, Lt. Scott Blakely of the Lexington police department said Saturday.

Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, Lt. Garry Sennett of Lexington police said Sunday.

Casper, who played for UK from 2003 to 2006, graduated from the university in May 2007. Originally from Louisville and a graduate of Mercy Academy, Casper was the Southeastern Conference record holder in career digs, ranked 13th in NCAA Division I volleyball history in career digs and was a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

“The Wildcat family is saddened by the loss of Jenni Casper,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said in a statement.

“Jenni represented the University of Kentucky and the volleyball program with passion and dignity. She was an intense competitor and amazing individual. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jenni’s family and loved ones during this period of grief.”

UK volleyball Coach Craig Skinner added, “We will do everything we can to carry on Jenni’s legacy of dedication, enthusiasm and unselfishness through our program.”

Information about funeral and memorial arrangements was not available Sunday night.

Wreck injures former UK star

Nzenwa Named Preseason All-SEC

Kentucky returning All-American Queen Nzenwa was selected a preseason All-SEC member Thursday, the first time a Wildcat has received such an honor.

The returning middle blocker, Kentucky’s record holder in block assists, was named first team All-SEC last season, amassing 174 block assists for the season and leading the team with a .371 hitting percentage.