Oct. 23, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF volleyball team returns to the road this weekend for a pair of rematches against Conference USA-foes Memphis and UAB. The Knights will face the Tigers Friday night at 8 p.m. ET, before traveling to Birmingham, Ala., for their second shot at a win against the Blazers at 2 p.m. ET.
Memphis Tigers (13-10, 4-5 C-USA)
The Tigers enter Friday's contest with a 13-10 overall record on the season and a 4-5 league-mark. Memphis' last nine contests have been decided in four matches, which included a 3-1 loss to the Knights at The Venue at UCF on Oct. 10. The Tigers pace C-USA in blocks in 2008, averaging 2.77 blocks per set, getting big help from league-leader Emily Underwood. The sophomore holds a 1.60 blocks per set average and has 144 total blocks on the year.
UAB Blazers (18-3, 8-1 C-USA)
The Blazers sit atop the C-USA standings this week with a 8-1 league record, while also posting an 18-3 overall mark on the year. UAB leads the league with a .268 team hitting percentage, which includes a team-best .396 clip from senior Casey Dent. Also contributing to the Blazers' offensive success is fellow senior Ivana Bozic, who was named the AVCA National Player of the Week on Monday. The outside hitter leads her team with a 3.26 kills-per-set average and a 3.34 digs-per-set average.
Hot Steak
Senior Stephanie Serna has posted 10 or more kills in UCF's last 14 matches, including a pair of double-digit marks against both Houston and Rice last weekend and a 19-kill performance against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday. In those 14 matches, Serna averaged 3.57 kills per set (193 K, 54 sets) and hit .382.
Successful Outing
Junior Andrea Youngblood took the reigns of the UCF offense Tuesday night against Florida Gulf Coast, posting her third double-double of the season with 56 assists and 12 digs. Under the direction of the setter, the Knights hit .236, its highest mark in its last four matches, and recorded 58 kills.
Over the Hill
After posting 14 kills Tuesday night against Florida Gulf Coast, junior Erin Campbell surpassed the 300-kill mark for the second-consecutive season. The junior has tallied 307 kills in 2008 and ranks fifth in C-USA with a 3.41 kills per set average. Campbell also ranks second in league standings in total kills. The outside hitter posted 346 kills last season and averaged 3.09 kills per set.
Just What I Needed
Jenny Heppert has 71 total blocks on the season and 343 for her career, giving her sole possession of the No. 3 spot on the UCF individual career register. Heppert needs only six more block assists to take sole possession of the No. 3 spot in block assists, with Amanda Stoutjesdyk holding down the third position with 297.
Making Her Way
Heppert isn't the only Knight looking to climb up the UCF career-record chart, as Campbell sits in the No. 8 spot in all-time attempts after posting 984 total attempts so far this season. The junior outside hitter sits at No. 8 all-time on the list with 2,294 total attempts in her career and needs 117 to match Piper Morgan for the No. 7 spot.
Successful Attempt
Erin Campbell's career-high 73 attempts Friday night at Houston top the Conference USA single-match register for attempts in a match. The junior totaled 16 kills in the contest, while also adding 12 digs for her eighth-consecutive double-double.
Leaps and Bounds
As of Oct. 13, the UCF volleyball team is ranked No. 76 on the NCAA RPI Rankings this week. The team concluded the 2007 season with a No. 244 ranking, a jump of 168 places, the largest for any Division I team this season.
Two More to Pass
The Knights need only two more wins this season to surpass its win total from the last two seasons combined. The Black and Gold posted five wins in 2006 and nine victories in 2007, and with 13 already in 2008, UCF could reach that mark this weekend.
Chasing the Leader
Sophomore Janine Williams is also closing in on the 300 kill mark, sitting at 255 for the season after recording 10 digs against the Eagles on Tuesday. The outside hitter needs only 15 more kills to reach the milestone. Williams is averaging 3.20 kills per set in her first season with the Knights, a mark that ranks in at No. 10 on the league leader board.
Where We Sit
The Knights currently rank fourth in the league in blocks, averaging 2.11 per set, and fifth in hitting percentage with a .234 clip when facing C-USA opponents. UCF has posted double-digit marks in blocks in four conference matches this season, which included 13 against Memphis in early October. In the match against the Tigers, the Black and Gold posted a season-high seven solo blocks and hit .281 in the contest, their highest mark in their last five matches.
On the Road
UCF has spent the majority of its time on the road this season, holding a 2-6 record when playing on their opponent's home floor. But, that does not mean that it's all struggles away from home as the Knights are 7-1 when playing at a neutral site.
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.
-UCF-