Oct. 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - An exciting weekend of home volleyball is on slate for UCF beginning Friday, as the Knights welcome Conference USA-foes Rice and Houston to The Venue at UCF for a pair of contests. Friday's `Dig for the Cure' match against the Owls is set for 7 p.m., with free admission, while Sunday's 1 p.m. match against the Cougars is scheduled to air live on Bright House Sports Network.
Senior Erin Campbell (Kansas City, Mo.) and sophomore Kristin Fisher (Clearwater, Fla.) pace UCF (10-10, 2-5 C-USA) this season with 283 and 236 kills, respectively, while Campbell is one of only two Knights to have posted 200 or more digs in 2009. The senior outside hitter needs only 17 kills and 88 digs this season to become only the second player in program-history to record 300 kills and 300 digs in three-consecutive seasons.
Defensively, freshman Meredith Murphy (Austin, Texas) has a team-leading 332 digs and is averaging 4.31 per set, while sophomore Sara Rex (Oldsmar, Fla.) has a squad-best 55 blocks under her belt heading into the weekend.
The Black and Gold will honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month Friday against Rice with its fourth-annual `Dig for the Cure' match. Admission to the event is free of charge, but fans are encouraged to donate funds to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its fight to find a cure for breast cancer.
Spectators can help the team raise funds for the Komen Foundation by pledging money per dig earned ($1 or $.10) by the Knights in the match, or by making flat donations. Those interested in pledging money or making a donation for UCF's `Dig for the Cure' event will be able to pick up forms at the match or may also contact the volleyball office at (407) 823-6229. Checks can be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Through the `Dig for the Cure' program, 227 collegiate volleyball squads across the country raised over $260,000 last year, while having raised almost $600,000 over the last six seasons.
The Owls enter the contest against the Knights Friday with a 13-5 record on the season and a 5-2 C-USA clip, a mark that places them second among league squads. Ashleigh McCord and Natalie Bogan lead Rice with 219 and 218 kills, respectively, while Tracey Lam paces the defense with a league-best 5.40 digs per set. UCF is 2-6 all-time versus the Owls.
The Knights will battle Houston in front of a live regional audience on Bright House Sports Network Sunday at 1 p.m. The match is the second to air on BHSN this season and is the first live event for the Black and Gold on the station. Fans that subscribe to digital cable that cannot make it out to The Venue Sunday can catch the match on Bright House channel 47.
The Cougars enter the weekend with a 6-16 overall record and a 3-2 C-USA mark, but have been catching fire as of late, picking up three of its six wins over their last six matches. Senior Kinsey Cave has been providing the bulk of the squad's offensive power, contributing a team-best 332.0 total points and 3.81 kills per set. The Knights have yet to defeat Houston, with the Cougars holding a 5-0 advantage over the home team.
Season tickets for the 2009 season are still available for only $30, with the Knights hosting six regular-season matches remaining at The Venue at UCF this year.
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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