By Nick Gray | @KyKernelGray

ngray@kernel.com

Fresh off a backbreaking five-set comeback defeat from the hands of Florida, the UK volleyball team (10-7, 4-3 SEC) begins a four-game home stand on Friday against Mississippi State (4-12, 0-7 SEC) at 5 p.m., but in unfamiliar territory.

As a part of the night known as Big Blue Madness, the opening event for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the volleyball Cats will serve as the opening act in Rupp Arena for the first time against the Bulldogs. The program’s goal is to set a national record for attendance at a college volleyball game.

“We’ll get a chance to play in front a big crowd. We’ll have a chance to play in front lot of people who haven’t seen us play or seen volleyball for that matter. A lot of people travel a long way for Big Blue Madness and it’s certainly a chance for more exposure. It’s going to be pretty special to play in this environment,” UK coach Craig Skinner said. “We’re going to suit up in Rupp Arena, in front of people we’ve never played in front of before, and (the players) always get jacked up for that kind of situation.”

Skinner has a point; in the two most high-profile matchups the Cats have been in — a 3-1 competitive loss to then No. 1 Nebraska with a Cornhuskers home crowd of more than 4,000, and a 3-0 victory against Tennessee in a nationally televised affair — UK has come up with two of its strongest performances to date.

Skinner said the addition of a volleyball game to the night had been of interest to him since he became head coach in December 2004. But the schedule never worked out in his favor; that is, until this year.

The injection of energy in playing in front of potentially the largest crowd in the history of college volleyball is much needed for the Cats, who, in their last match, bested Florida in the first two sets then let the game slip away, falling to the Gators 3-2. Skinner said he didn’t expect a hangover from Sunday’s loss.

UK has won four out of its last five matches, which includes sweeps against Tennessee last month and Ole Miss last Friday. Sophomore Lauren O’Connor hit 29 kills combined in the games against Ole Miss and Florida last weekend, the only player who earned double-digit kills in each game.

Mississippi State will bring a young team with three upperclassmen under fourth-year head coach Jenny Hazelwood. The Bulldogs have lost eight in a row, including each conference match thus far. Offensively Mississippi State is led by freshman outside hitter Taylor Scott (2.93 kills per set average) and freshman middle blocker Sarah Nielsen (2.59 kills per set average). Scott also leads all Bulldogs in digs (2.98 digs per set average).

“They are a young, eager group. They have a lot to gain by winning this match. They’ll play loose and free and give everything they’ve got,” Skinner said. “A couple players are very capable of putting the ball away and they can pass well. So they’ll provide a challenge to us.”

Only those who have Big Blue Madness tickets will be able to attend the match.