April 8, 2008
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Junior outside hitter Erin Campbell (Kansas City, Mo.) posted 30 points on 26 kills to pace the UCF volleyball team to a 1-1-3 record Saturday at the University of Miami Spring Tournament to conclude the Knights' 2008 spring schedule. Campbell also passed a 2.23 on the weekend, an outstanding number for an outside hitter.
The Knights faced host Miami, Florida Atlantic, Barry, Lynn and Nova over the course of the day Saturday at the Hecht Athletic Center, with each match featuring two games to 25 points.
Freshmen Kristin Fisher (Clearwater, Fla.) and Erin Callahan (Alpharetta, Ga.) received significant playing time in a majority of UCF's matches, with Fisher accounting for 20 of the Knights' points on 16 kills and Callahan registering 10 points, while getting three blocks.
"This was a great weekend for us to let everybody play and begin to establish their roles on the team," first-year head coach Todd Dagenais said. "I was especially excited about the performances of Fisher and Callahan."
"Fisher has worked really hard to come back from an injury that she sustained last season and is starting to do many of the things we were hoping she would be able to do," Dagenais said. "Callahan has eased into her new role as an outside hitter, after switching from the middle position, and I am really excited about how hard she has worked, especially in her passing and defense."
Also putting up big numbers on defense was sophomore Lauren Williams (Lake Mary, Fla.), who tallied six blocks for the Black and Gold. As a team, the Knights averaged 2.3 blocks per game.
"I think our greatest improvement in the past week has been our blocking," Dagenais stated. "To average 2.3 blocks per game is a significant number in a 25-point game. (Assistant coach) Michelle Chatman has been working very hard with the middle blockers in practice and each week we are seeing more and more development from them as well as seeing the identity of the team we are going to be."
Kerry Brown (Elburn, Ill.) rounded out the Knights offensive attack at the spring event, registering 11 kills on her way to 18 points.
The tournament at the University of Miami was the last scheduled event for the UCF volleyball team this spring, but the Knights will finish up spring training with individual workouts and an intra-squad beach tournament Friday.
Season tickets for the 2008 season are still available and can be purchased by calling 407-UCF-1000. For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pics
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