With just five games remaining in the 2009 regular season, the Bulldogs (15-11, 6-9 SEC) still have an outside chance of making their first NCAA Tournament since 2004.

In order to join the 64-team field, Georgia will most likely need to win four of its final five matches – not an easy task considering the opponents traveling to Athens this weekend.

The final homestand of the season begins tonight, as Georgia welcomes two of the SEC’s best teams into the Ramsey Student Center for what is sure to be a challenging weekend for the ladies in red.

First up for the Bulldogs will be the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (24-2, 14-1 SEC), who defeated Georgia earlier this season by a match score of 3-1.

The experience the Bulldogs gained in Lexington, Ky., in October gives head coach Joel McCartney and his team confidence going into tonight’s match.

“[We played] some of the best volleyball we had played through the season at Kentucky, and even though we lost in four (sets) .three of those sets go either way,” McCartney said.

“[We] could’ve won that [match] in four [sets], could’ve extended it to five [sets], but, the result aside, it was great Georgia volleyball, and we felt really good about that.”

The Bulldogs will look to snap a nine-game losing streak to Kentucky, as their last win against the Wildcats came in 2004.

The SEC-leading Wildcats have already stamped their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, which may provide the Bulldogs with a competitive edge in the match, as Georgia still has a lot to play for.

“We feel good of what we’ve done to get where we are right now . at this point in the season, that’s as high [of] a finish as we’ve had in the last three years since I’ve been here.”

On Sunday afternoon, the Bulldogs will take on the Tennessee Volunteers (19-6, 12-3 SEC), who also defeated Georgia previously this season and currently sit in fourth place in the SEC.

Tennessee swept the Bulldogs in October by set scores of 25-11, 25-15 and 25-17.

“We played some of our worst volleyball in Knoxville, Tenn., on the road. I’m not proud of that, but, looking back, [that] is just a head-shaker,” McCartney said. “We weren’t able to step up and compete in that match.”

Georgia will need to figure out a way to pull out at least one victory this weekend if they have any hopes of playing into the month of December.

A task much easier said than done as two teams that already bested the Bulldogs once in 2009 make the trip to Athens.

First serve against Kentucky is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, and the match against the Vols will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday.