Craig Skinner challenges Kentucky fans to set indoor volleyball attendance record

Wisconsin set the regular-season NCAA volleyball attendance record with 16,833 fans in a match vs. Florida in 2022. Craig Skinner and the Kentucky women’s volleyball program are challenging Big Blue Nation to break that record when the Wildcats open the season inside Rupp Arena vs. Pittsburgh on Sept. 1.

“The attendance around the country — Wisconsin set the indoor mark last year at 17,000 people. I’d certainly love to hit that mark inside Rupp Arena,” Skinner said on 630 WLAP’s Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “For our fans to do something like that, it’d be one of the most rewarding things we could do as a program.”

Lofty expectations, but deserving for a program that has made 18 consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Skinner, highlighted by a 2020 national championship and six straight SEC championships.

Kentucky has set Sept. 1 as the attendance challenge date when the Wildcats take on Pittsburgh, who is coming off back-to-back National Semifinal appearances and a 31-4 season a year ago. The current attendance record for Kentucky volleyball is 9,475 fans, set in October 1993 in a match against LSU. Skinner’s top priority is breaking that record, at minimum. If the Wildcats are able to top the nationwide record? Well, that’d be welcomed, too.

“Our current record is 9,500 people for our program, so getting over 10,000 would be a big deal,” Skinner added. “Pittsburgh and us, two aspiring and rising programs, to get our attendance up with programs like Nebraska and Minnesota and Wisconsin, that’d be huge. This is a great opportunity for us to set that tone.”

Kentucky comes in at No. 10 overall in the preseason AVCA Rankings, good for No. 1 in the SEC. Pittsburgh is right ahead of the Wildcats, tied for No. 5 overall. How does Skinner feel about his group in the days leading up to the regular season, set to begin Friday, Aug. 25 at Colorado State?

“So far, so good. A really good, accomplished preseason,” Skinner told KSR. “Energy is really good. Stayed healthy for the most part. We were able to implement a lot of things that we wanted to the last few weeks, saw some really good things in our exhibition. But also — as all coaches would say — a lot of things to improve on and work on. I can’t wait, it’s really a fun group to coach.”

The Wildcats will take on Colorado State on Friday, followed by a matchup at Northern Colorado on Saturday, Aug. 26. From there, the home-opener vs. Pittsburgh on Sept. 1 inside Rupp Arena.

Kentucky got the lay of the land at Rupp in a 3-1 exhibition victory over No. 24 Western Kentucky last Thursday. What did Skinner think of the setup ahead of the real thing next Friday?

“It was awesome. The venue is fantastic — the sound system, the sight lines, the lighting, the court layout, distance from the court,” he said. “We’re actually closer to the court than Memorial Coliseum, so I feel like fans get a new appreciation for the speed of the game and the power. To get 1,500-2,000 people there for an exhibition on a random Thursday night, it was fantastic our first go-round. It’s a great tune-up for Pittsburgh as we attempt to break the attendance record.”

Memorial Coliseum is currently undergoing an $82 million renovation that won’t be completed until the fall of 2024. There are benefits of a move to Rupp, but that doesn’t mean the Wildcats are immune to an adjustment period. That’s inevitable.

Skinner is just grateful Kentucky got a tune-up match before the Panthers head to town next week.

“It’s certainly an adjustment, I’m glad we got the chance to practice one day before the Western Kentucky match instead of rolling in there cold turkey against Pittsburgh,” he said. “The depth perception and sight lines, it’s all very good and quality. It’s a little bit different airflow with the air conditioning — there’s a difference in how the ball travels, especially when serving.

“There will be an adjustment, but it’s not going to be a problem. I’m excited, it’s going to be a great place to watch volleyball.”

Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh. Rupp Arena. September 1, 7 p.m. ET.

Buy tickets here. Time to shatter the record.