UK at the SEC Volleyball Championships Predating the run <strong>of</strong> dominance in the SEC by the Florida Gators during the 1990s, the <strong>Kentucky</strong> Wildcats set the standard <strong>of</strong> play in the conference during the ‘70s and ‘80s. From 1979 to 1989, the Wildcats won five SEC regular-season titles that preceded five SEC Tournament Championships. On two more occasions the Cats were the SEC Tournament runners-up, making 1981, 1982, 1985 and 1986 the only years during that 11-year span in which the Cats did not compete in the tournament’s title match. While falling short <strong>of</strong> the championship match in those four seasons, UK was a three-time consolation champion (’82, ’85, ’86). In the inaugural SEC Tournament <strong>of</strong> 1979, UK swept the competition behind Kim Clay and her first <strong>of</strong> three SEC All-Tournament selections as the Cats won their first <strong>of</strong> two straight SEC tourney titles. With 1980 serving as the last year for the tournament’s doubleelimination format, UK successfully defended its home court against five opponents to win the crown. UK claimed both regular season and tournament championship honors in 1983 with Marsha Bond leading the way and earning her third to the SEC All-Tournament team. Karolyn Kirby was also named to the All-Tournament team in ’83. The Cats lost in the championship match in 1984 after finishing the regular season second in the conference. During these two years the SEC Tournament featured just the top four teams and required just two wins to earn the title. In 1987 and ’88, the Cats capped <strong>of</strong>f their fourth and fifth perfect SEC regular seasons by sweeping through the tournament each time. Laura Linder and Kim Thompson were named to the All-Tournament team on both occasions as head coach Kathy DeBoer’s program reached elite status in college volleyball. Although the Wildcats have not played in the championship match since 1989, a return to those previous days <strong>of</strong> glory appears within reach under second-year head coach Craig Skinner. The Cats posted their best league record since the 1993 season with a 10-6 mark in 2005. The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kentucky</strong> is one <strong>of</strong> only four member institutions to earn multiple SEC Volleyball Tournament titles and its five tournament championships are second only to Florida’s 11. Following the 2005 season, the league’s coaches voted to play home-and-home series with each opponent instead <strong>of</strong> participating in a conference tournament. 1979 • SEC Champions at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 10/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 2-0 10/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 2-0 10/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mississippi St. W 2-0 10/27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 3-0 10/27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 3-1 1980 • SEC Champions at Lexington, Ky. 10/30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auburn W 2-0 10/30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ole Miss W 2-0 10/31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 2-0 10/31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama W 2-1 11/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 2-1 1981 • Fourth Place at Knoxville, Tenn. 11/18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama L 3-2 11/19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU L 3-0 1982 • Consolation Champion at Baton Rouge, La. 11/18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mississippi St. W 3-0 11/19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee L 3-1 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia W 3-0 1983 • SEC Champions at Lexington, Ky. 11/19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ole Miss W 3-0 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 3-1 1984 • Runner-up at Knoxville, Tenn. 11/16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia W 3-1 11/17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee L 3-1 1985 • Consolation Champion at Oxford, Miss. 11/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 3-0 11/23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia L 3-0 11/24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ole Miss W 3-0 1986 • Consolation Champion at Gainesville, Fla. 11/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ole Miss W 3-0 11/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia L 3-1 11/23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida W 3-0 1987 • SEC Champions at Baton Rouge, La. 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mississippi St. W 3-0 11/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 3-0 11/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida W 3-0 1988 • SEC Champions at Pensacola, Fla. 11/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 3-1 11/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennessee W 3-0 1989 • Runner-up at Pensacola, Fla. 11/24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia W 3-1 11/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU L 3-0 UK’s SEC Tournament History 1990 • First Round at Mobile, Ala. 11/23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ole Miss L 3-2 1991 • Semifinalist at Mobile, Ala. 11/29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auburn W 3-1 11/30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU L 3-1 1992 • Semifinalist at Birmingham, Ala. 11/27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auburn W 3-1 11/28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU L 3-1 1993 • Semifinalist at Birmingham, Ala. 11/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auburn W 3-1 11/27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia L 3-0 1994 • Semifinalist at Gainesville, Fla. 11/18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 3-2 11/18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arkansas W 3-2 11/19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia L 3-0 1995 • First Round at Baton Rouge, La. 11/17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mississippi L 2-3 1996 • First Round at Columbia, S.C. 11/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama L 2-3 1997 • Second Round at Athens, Ga. 11/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mississippi St. W 3-1 11/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida L 0-3 1998 • Second Round at Fayetteville, Ark. 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LSU W 3-1 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida L 0-3 1999 • Semifinalist at Knoxville, Tenn. 11/19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South CarolinaW 3-2 11/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arkansas L 1-3 2001 • First Round at Knoxville, Tenn. 11/16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arkansas L 0-3 2002 • First Round at Fayetteville, Ark. 11/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida L 0-3 2003 • First Round at Columbia, S.C. 11/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida L 0-3 2005 • First Round at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 11/18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arkansas L 1-3 100 T h e S o u t h e a s t e r n C o n f e r e n c e
BriAnne Sauer