After a five-set loss to LSU Sunday that snapped an 11-game winning streak, UK volleyball looks to bounce back this weekend in resounding fashion against two SEC teams.

UK (17-3, 7-1 SEC) hits the road as they embark on a road trip through the heart of Texas and Arkansas. Up next for the Cats are No. 24 Texas A&M and Arkansas.

The match against Texas A&M (12-6, 4-3 SEC) on Sunday will be the second time the teams have clashed this season. UK took the first game in three sets behind senior outside hitter Lauren O’Conner’s 17 kills and Anni Thomasson’s six aces. The Aggies enter the weekend coming off a five-set win against South Carolina. They are led by junior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan, who leads the Aggies with 200 kills and 71 blocks this season. Sophomore libero Victoria Arenas is the dig leader with 219 this season.

UK opens the weekend on Friday with a matchup against an Arkansas team that is facing its third-consecutive ranked team and fourth team in a string of seven straight games against opponents that played in the 2013-14 NCAA Tournament.

History has not been kind for the Cats against the Razorbacks with Arkansas winning two of the last three meetings against UK. But UK will take a 5-1-road record this season into the match with its last road loss coming back in September against North Carolina.

Standing across the net from the Cats will be Arkansas senior outside hitter Meredith Hays, who is 12th in the nation with 966 total attacking attempts.

With the loss against LSU, the Cats fell to second place in the SEC behind a Florida team that still remains undefeated in conference play.

UK will face Arkansas at 8 p.m. on Friday in Barnhill Arena and will play Texas A&M at 12 p.m. on Sunday in Reed Arena.

STAFF REPORT