Nov. 7, 2008
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (UCFAthletics.com) - Stephanie Serna (San Antonio, Texas) hit .385 and tallied a match-best 20 kills and Lauren Rosenthal (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted her fourth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 16 digs, but the UCF volleyball team dropped a Conference USA contest at Marshall, 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 26-28, 9-15), Friday night at the Cam Henderson Center despite leading 2-1 heading into the fourth set.
The loss dropped the Knights' record to 14-14 on the season and 6-8 in league matches.
"I commend Marshall for the amount of pressure they put on us in some really key points in the match," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "The fact is, when it mattered most, they were able to run their system more than we were. I am very disappointed in our execution and focus as the sets got tight in two and four. We had countless opportunities to take control in those matches and we did not do it."
The Knights trailed for the majority of the opening set, falling down by as many as four points midway through. A kill from Lauren Williams (Lake Mary, Fla.) tied the set 16-16 and gave the Black and Gold a spark. The Knights evened the set four times following that point, until a kill from Jenny Heppert (Lawrence, Kan.) gave UCF its first lead, 20-19, since going up 3-2 early on. Two kills from Renele Forde (Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago) and a kill each from Erin Campbell (Kansas City, Mo.) and Serna guided the Black and Gold to the opening-set victory.
Williams finished the match with 11 kills and hit a team-high .400, while also posting four block assists. Campbell added nine kills and nine digs, Forde recorded a career-best eight kills and both Heppert and Janine Williams (Gainesville, Fla.) chipped in seven kills apiece.
Marshall (11-13, 4-10 C-USA) rebounded and picked up a victory in the second set to even the match, 1-1. But, a trip to the locker room was just what the Knights needed entering the third set. UCF took an early 6-1 lead thanks to three-straight kills from Serna, Rosenthal and Lauren Williams, and a trio of miscues by Marshall. UCF led by as many as six points four different times throughout the set and never lost its lead, going on to win 25-22.
"I thought at times that we were playing as well as we had all year, and that is a glimpse of what can still come before this year ends," Dagenais said.
UCF again led the Herd early in the fourth set, but let the home team come back and even the match again, 2-2, and force a decisive fifth set.
Freshman Kathleen Curry (Geneva, Fla.) paced the Knights' defense with 20 digs, while Janine Williams also posted double-digits in digs with 12.
In the final set, UCF hung with Marshall through the first 10 points, but the Herd put together a 10-4 run to clinch the match.
"Players need to step up and become partially responsible for their performances," Dagenais said. "Until everyone becomes accountable for their performances, we are going to put ourselves in jeopardy of not winning a match. With two conference matches left and the C-USA tournament, we have not given up on this team's ability to achieve even more great things. We are not satisfied with the achievements we have made to this point. We want more."
The Knights will play their final road match of the regular-season Sunday when they take on East Carolina at 1 p.m.
The UCF volleyball team will honor its two seniors, Heppert and Serna, in its final home match of the season on Saturday, Nov. 15, when it hosts Southern Miss at The Venue at UCF at 7 p.m. 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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