Nov. 22, 2010
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By Sarah Tarasewicz
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the first time in program history, the UCF volleyball team had two student-athletes named to the Conference USA Volleyball All-Academic Team, as league officials announced Monday that both sophomore Tory McCutcheon (Milton, Ont.) and junior Kristin Fisher (Clearwater, Fla.) were two of 11 volleyball players selected to the squad as voted on by the league's Sports Information Directors.
The all-academic team consists of student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a starter or key reserve on their team.
"Academics have been one of the biggest priorities since we have come here," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "Being able to get two players on the team is a fantastic achievement for the program and a huge tribute to Tory McCutcheon and Kristin Fisher. We are very proud of the effort these two have put in not only on the court and in the classroom, but for this team. To have two of the 11 players on the all-academic team come from UCF is a huge privilege for our program and something that we are really excited about."
The duo become only the second and third UCF volleyball players to garner the distinction, as former Knight Jenny Heppert was the only other student-athlete to be voted onto the squad, being honored in back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008.
On the heels of being named to the ESPN Academic All-District III Second Team earlier in the month by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), McCutcheon earned her first mention on the league's all-academic team for maintaining a 3.97 cumulative GPA while pursuing a degree in biology. She was a recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal and was also a member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, while being named to the UCF Dean's List and earning the UCF President's Honor Roll Certificate.
On the court, McCutcheon currently ranks sixth in the league with a .333 attack percentage and holds the two highest single-match hitting percentages in C-USA this season after hitting a league-high .750 vs. Houston and .722 vs. East Carolina. Over the course of the year, the middle blocker posted a .300 attack percentage or better in 14 matches on her way to leading the Knights in the category. McCutcheon ranks second on the team with 70 total blocks, which includes 16 block solos and 54 block assists.
Fisher earned her first spot on the all-academic team for maintaining a 3.755 GPA while pursuing a degree in health sciences. The outside hitter has twice been honored with the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal during her career, while earning a spot on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll three times. Fisher is a five-time member of the UCF Dean's List and is also a recipient of the President's Honor Roll Certificate.
In her junior campaign, Fisher has been a breakout star for the Black and Gold. Not only does Fisher lead UCF in kills, kills per set and points, but the outside hitter also ranks third in league standings in all three categories and ranks 21st and 26th nationally in kills per set and points per set, respectively. Fisher has 12 double-doubles on the season and has totaled double-digit kills in 26 of the Knights' 29 matches, which included six contests in which she tallied 20 or more kills.
The Knights wrap up their 2010 schedule this week when they play a home-and-home Conference USA series with UTEP. The first match of the series will see the Black and Gold take on the Miners on the road beginning at 9 p.m. ET, before the squad concludes play Saturday at The Venue at UCF vs. UTEP at 7:30 p.m.