Although they have dropped the first two matches between the two teams this season, the Arkansas volleyball team will get its third crack a SEC regular-season champion, Kentucky, when they meet again in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas (27-5), who tied with Tennessee as conference runner-ups, is playing in just its second Sweet 16 in program history. The anticipated rematch between the No. 3-seeded Razorbacks and No. 2-seeded Wildcats will take place Thursday at 3:30 p.m., in Lincoln, Neb., and will air live on ESPNU.
The Razorbacks swept Stephen F. Austin in the tournament’s first round, then defeated TCU, 3-1, on Saturday to reach the Regional semifinal. Kentucky swept through the first two rounds, with wins over Wofford and Baylor.
The winner of the Arkansas-Kentucky match will move on the face the winner of No. 1-seeded Nebraska and No. 5-seeded Georgia Tech, for a shot to go to the Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Kentucky (21-7) has won the past seven SEC titles and is quite familiar with NCAA regional play. The Wildcats have reached the round of 16 five times since 2017, including the Wildcats’ 2021 national championship run. Arkansas’ only other trip to the round of 16 ended with a sweep to Hawaii in 1998.
The Razorbacks fell to the Wildcats in five sets on Oct. 22 in Lexington, then were swept by Kentucky at home on Nov. 22.