I know what you’re thinking.

The football Cats are napping this weekend, and you don’t know what to do. No tailgating. No face painting. No chance to cheer on the home team, right?

Not exactly.

Although you can’t pack into Commonwealth Stadium this weekend, there’s still plenty of action and it’s only a hop, skip and an attacking kill away.

The UK volleyball team will open its Southeastern Conference schedule this weekend in Memorial Coliseum against Alabama. It’s not the same matchup against the Crimson Tide you are anticipating on the gridiron in two weeks, but its significance is all the same.

The Cats will look to maintain their strong start to the season this weekend.

UK (9-2) has suffered only one loss at home, getting swept by Wisconsin on Aug. 30. Since then, the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum have resulted in an overall record of 5-0. The volleyball team owns teams that have played on their home court. Over the past three years, the Cats are 31-6 on their home court.

This Friday against the Crimson Tide, and Sunday afternoon against Mississippi State, the Cats can nab wins No. 32 and 33, but it won’t be easy.

Alabama, a perennial power in the SEC, holds the best record in the Western Division after a 7-2 start. The Crimson Tide swept the Cats last season.

If UK hopes to win this time around, the difference will be the front line. UK is first in the SEC in blocks with 2.59 a game. Alabama, the second best hitting team in the conference, will have its hands full trying to get the ball around senior All-SEC middle blocker Queen Nzenwa and Co.

The Cats have steady offense to rely on, too. Heading into conference play the Cats are third in hitting percentage, and first in assists and kills.

The matchup Friday night in Memorial Coliseum is a must see for Big Blue fans.

But if that’s not enough to keep you occupied this weekend, there’s more. Both women’s and men’s soccer teams are home this weekend. The men play Sunday against Alabama A&M, and the women host Oakland Friday night and Cleveland State on Sunday.

Still, if you need more to drive your sports adrenaline, you can watch UK grad J.B. Holmes drive the ball in the Ryder Cup, which is being held this weekend in Louisville. The opportunity to cheer on the red, white and blue didn’t stop with the Olympics; it was just on hold until the U.S. golfers take on Europe. Now, you can cheer on Big Blue and the U.S. at the same time.

The costs of the remaining tickets go beyond the means of most college students. Luckily for you, the event is on ESPN and NBC.

So now you know there’s no need to be napping this weekend. Now, go sporting and be happy.