KENTUCKY AT A GLANCE

Ranking: No. 14

Coach: Craig Skinner (6th season)

Need to know: The Wildcats are coming off a 29-5 season, their best under Skinner. Kentucky advanced to the regional semifinals, losing 17-15 in the fifth set to Florida State. ... The Wildcats return four starters and are picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference.

Nebraska connections: Skinner spent five seasons as an assistant at Nebraska under John Cook. ... Junior outside hitter Ann Armes is from Grand Island, and junior middle blocker Becky Pavan is the sister of former NU star Sarah Pavan. ... Sara Sjuts, director of volleyball operations, is from York, Neb., and previously worked with the Huskers.

FLORIDA AT A GLANCE

Ranking: No. 13

Coach: Mary Wise (19th season)

Need to know: The Gators went 25-6 last year, losing 3-0 to No. 1 Penn State in the NCAA regional semifinals ... Florida returns five starters, including junior S/RS Kelly Murphy, named second-team All-America, and junior OH Kristy Jaeckel, a first-team All-SEC pick. Wise’s team was tabbed for a second-place finish in the SEC preseason poll. ... Florida welcomed in three standout transfers in junior OH Stephanie Ferrell (Hawaii), junior OH Cinthya Roberto (Blinn Junior College in Texas) and sophomore RS Tangerine Wiggs (Washington State).

Nebraska connection: Florida was the Huskers’ regional final opponent at Qwest Center Omaha in 2005, when the top-ranked Huskers swept the No. 4 Gators in front of 15,119 fans and moved on to the final four.

IOWA STATE AT A GLANCE

Ranking: No. 9

Coach: Christy Johnson-Lynch (6th season)

Need to know: The Cyclones’ unprecedented 2009 campaign included regular-season wins over Nebraska and Texas and a final record of 27-5. But it ended at the Qwest Center, where the Huskers swept Iowa State in the regional semifinals. ... Iowa State’s only new starter is sophomore S Alison Landwehr.

Nebraska connections: Johnson-Lynch is a Millard North graduate and former All-America setter for the Huskers. ... The Cyclones have five Nebraskans on their roster in junior OH Carly Jenson (Millard North), junior DS Caitlin Mahoney (Omaha Marian), junior RS Kelsey Petersen (Kearney), sophomore MB Jamie Straube (Tecumseh) and freshman Tenisha Matlock MB/RS (North Platte).

— Chad Purcell

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share