Sept. 5, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Despite getting a match-high 11 kills from sophomore Janine Williams (Gainesville, Fla.) the UCF volleyball team could not keep up with No. 13 Oregon, falling in three sets (13-25, 13-25, 19-25) to open the Jayhawk Invitational on the campus of the University of Kansas. With the loss the Knights fall to 2-3 on the season.
UCF took an early lead to open the match, but faltered mid-way through the opening set after a 6-0 run put the Ducks up 22-12. A Williams kill ended the run, but Oregon put together a 3-0 pass to put the set away, 25-13. Williams paced the Black and Gold in the opening set with three kills and a block solo.
Oregon opened the second set with an 8-1 run, a mark that proved too substantial for UCF to overcome. The Knights pulled within nine points of the Ducks mid-way through the set, but lost 25-13.
The third set saw the Knights playing its best volleyball of the day, hanging with the Ducks through their first 11 points. But, a 6-2 run put the Ducks up 20-14, before UCF had to call a timeout. A 5-3 run by the Knights put them within four, 19-23, but two kills by Oregon ended the match. UCF hit .290 in the final set, compared to -.097 and -.095 in the first and second sets, respectively.
Williams was the only player on the floor to collect a double-digit figure in kills, while also adding four digs, two assists and a block solo. Junior Erin Campbell (Kansas City, Mo.) added six kills, four digs and a service ace in the Knights' effort.
With her block assist in the third set, senior Jenny Heppert (Lawrence, Kan.) took sole possession of the no. 5 position on the UCF career register, posting 239 block assists in her career.
UCF continues play in the Jayhawk Invitational later today, when they face Utah Valley State at 6 p.m. ET.
Season tickets for UCF's 2008 volleyball campaign at The Venue are currently available by calling the UCF athletics ticket office at 407-UCF-1000. For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
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