Pulliza faces tough homecoming
Nic Schluterman
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: Sports
Razorback volleyball head coach Robert Pulliza returns tonight to the site of his last rebuilding project.
In his four years as assistant and associate coach at Kentucky, Pulliza was considered one of the nation's premiere recruiters.
Sophomore blocker Queen Nzenwa, the Wildcats' first All-American in 15 years, was a Pulliza recruit.
So were all of the other members of this year's No. 23 Kentucky squad.
Now, the Wildcats (16-3, 7-1 SEC) are loaded, and Pulliza should not expect an easy return to Lexington.
"It will be nice to see those players again," Pulliza said. "But we will treat it the same as any other road trip."
The Hogs (5-12, 2-5 SEC) travel to the Bluegrass State tonight for the first match of a difficult road schedule.
Kentucky enjoyed the most successful four-year span in its history during Pulliza's tenure, reaching the NCAA Tournament three times.
This season, with a potent attack and a suffocating defense, they are primed for another trip to the postseason. The Wildcats lead the SEC in hitting percentage, and they hold opponents to the lowest hitting clip in the league.
Nzenwa, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, records kills at the second best rate in the conference.
Senior hitter Sarah Mendoza tallied 28 kills in matches last weekend to earn league Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The Wildcats have yet to drop a set at home in three SEC matches.
"Kentucky is one of the teams that could win the league this year," said Pulliza.
The Razorbacks continue the road swing on Sunday with an afternoon match at Tennessee (10-8, 4-4 SEC).
The road team won each match in last year's series between the two schools, but the Lady Vols hope that a home layup against the Hogs this weekend can keep them above .500 going into the second half of the league slate.
Tennessee has been defense-oriented this season and is currently second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, blocks and digs.
In his four years as assistant and associate coach at Kentucky, Pulliza was considered one of the nation's premiere recruiters.
Sophomore blocker Queen Nzenwa, the Wildcats' first All-American in 15 years, was a Pulliza recruit.
So were all of the other members of this year's No. 23 Kentucky squad.
Now, the Wildcats (16-3, 7-1 SEC) are loaded, and Pulliza should not expect an easy return to Lexington.
"It will be nice to see those players again," Pulliza said. "But we will treat it the same as any other road trip."
The Hogs (5-12, 2-5 SEC) travel to the Bluegrass State tonight for the first match of a difficult road schedule.
Kentucky enjoyed the most successful four-year span in its history during Pulliza's tenure, reaching the NCAA Tournament three times.
This season, with a potent attack and a suffocating defense, they are primed for another trip to the postseason. The Wildcats lead the SEC in hitting percentage, and they hold opponents to the lowest hitting clip in the league.
Nzenwa, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, records kills at the second best rate in the conference.
Senior hitter Sarah Mendoza tallied 28 kills in matches last weekend to earn league Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The Wildcats have yet to drop a set at home in three SEC matches.
"Kentucky is one of the teams that could win the league this year," said Pulliza.
The Razorbacks continue the road swing on Sunday with an afternoon match at Tennessee (10-8, 4-4 SEC).
The road team won each match in last year's series between the two schools, but the Lady Vols hope that a home layup against the Hogs this weekend can keep them above .500 going into the second half of the league slate.
Tennessee has been defense-oriented this season and is currently second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, blocks and digs.
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