Aug. 31, 2007
Boulder, Colo. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Colorado Invitational Friday, defeating UNC-Wilmington, 3-2 (30-24, 24-30, 30-27, 22-30, 15-4) before falling to No. 11 California, 3-0 (17-30, 20-30, 18-30).
The Knights were led by senior Schanell Neiderworder (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) who totaled 24 kills, and Jenny Heppert (Lawrence, Kan,/Lawrence Free State) who hit .231 and had nine blocks and three service aces on the day.
In the Black and Gold's first match, five Knights registered double-digits in kills while hitting .270 in the match, including a .636 stint in the final game.
Neiderworder led the Black and Gold in kills with 15, while Lauren Williams (Lake Mary, Fla./Seminole) hit .588 in the match with 13 kills. Stephanie Serna (San Antonio, Texas/Birmingham-Southerm), Heppert and Erin Campbell (Kansas City, Mo./North Kansas City) also had solid outings for UCF getting 12, 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
The Knights and the Seahawks (1-4) traded wins throughout the first four games, with UCF claiming games one and three and UNC-Wilmington securing games two and four. The Black and Gold took control of the fifth game going up 6-1 before a fire alarm in the gym forced a 20-minute delay, but the distraction was not enough to take the Knights out of their rhythm. UCF went on to allow only three additional points to the Seahawks on its way to a 15-4 decision.
Freshman setter Blaire Bruggemeyer (Burleson, Texas/Arlington Grace Prep) had a match-high 58 assists, while fellow freshman Kristen Petrasic (Carrollton, Texas/Creekview) led the Knights with 12 digs. Heppert also had a match-high seven blocks against the Seahawks.
For the second match in a row, Neiderworder led the Knights in kills with eight against No. 11 California, while freshman Brittany Turnbull (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) had a team-high 11 digs. Sophomore setter Andrea Youngblood (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) added 27 assists.
The match against Cal was the sixth of seven-straight on the road for the Knights.
UCF will be back in action Saturday when they take on host Colorado to conclude the Colorado Invitational.
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