Oct. 5, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF volleyball team will be looking for Conference USA success this weekend when it travels to Houston, Texas for a pair of league contests. The Golden Knights play Rice on Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern and then conclude the weekend at Houston on Sunday at 2 p.m.
UCF is 5-10 overall and 1-3 in conference matches. The squad has not played since dropping a 3-2 contest to visiting Southern Miss on Sept. 29.
Four Golden Knights posted double-doubles against Southern Miss. Junior outside hitters Lorin Lukas (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs HS) and Schanell Neiderworder (Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS) both registered 15 kills for the hosts. Neiderworder had 16 digs and Lukas registered 15 digs. Senior outside hitter Maina Heming (Sao Leopoldo, Brazil) posted 14 kills and a team-best 18 digs.
Senior setter Leah Alexander (Georgetown, Texas/Leander HS) tallied a match-high 38 assists and also had 16 digs for the double-double. On the season, Lukas ranks second in C-USA and 18th nationally, averaging 0.63 service aces per game. Neiderworder's 3.47 kills per game lead the team.
Rice improved to 9-10 overall and 2-3 in league play with a 3-2 victory over Houston at home on Wednesday. Yvette Kirk, the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, had 34 digs for the Owls, two shy of the school record. Four Owls posted double-digits in kills in the victory.
The Golden Knights are 2-3 all-time against Rice and the squads will be meeting in Texas for the first time. A year ago, the Owls claimed a 3-2 victory over UCF in Orlando.
Before facing UCF, Houston (12-7, 3-1) hosts Southern Miss on Friday. The Cougars have won seven of their last nine contests. Houston holds a 2-0 series edge against the Golden Knights and took a 3-2 win on the road in 2005.
The Golden Knights' next home match is slated for Friday, Oct. 13 against Marshall. The contest, which begins at 3 p.m., will be played at the Education Gym on campus. Admission to all UCF home matches this season is free courtesy of McDonald's.
For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.