Sept. 22, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With Conference USA play in full swing, the UCF volleyball team will look to carry over its preseason success as it hosts SMU and Tulsa this weekend at The Venue at UCF. The Knights (9-3) and Mustangs (4-8) will take to the floor Friday night at 7 p.m., with UCF closing out the weekend against the Golden Hurricane (9-4) Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Both Tulsa and SMU were tabbed in the preseason to finish No. 1 and No. 2 in Conference USA, respectively. Head coach Todd Dagenais is well aware of both teams' credentials and is looking forward to seeing how his team responds against the tough competition.
"If we want to finish in the top three of our conference, we are going to have to do it by beating SMU," Dagenais said of the first match this weekend. "We get it right away after that tough loss (against FIU) and it is exactly where we want to be right now. We want to be able to compete against these top teams right away and this weekend gives us a chance to do that.
"Against Tulsa, we know we will see a healthy helping of Tyler Henderson," Dagenais said about the preseason conference favorites. "It is probably going to be another one of those matches like we had against FIU where everything is decided by two points, and we have to make the swing when it counts. This is a great weekend for us to get our confidence back."
The matchup with the Mustangs will feature UCF's high-octane offense against SMU's gritty defense. Leading the conference in kills-per-set (14.43), UCF could be in store for some long rallies against a SMU team that tallies a league-best 17.98 digs-per-set. Libero Sidney Stewart averages the most digs-per-set at 5.80.
As Dagenais alluded to with the matchup against Tulsa, the contest could feature ultra-tight sets with both teams at the top of most offensive categories in C-USA. The league's top two outside hitters in Tulsa's Henderson and UCF's Angelica Crump will go head-to-head. The duo averages 5.08 and 4.45 kills-per-set, respectively, and ranks among that nations best at the position.
Fans will not only be treated to spectacular volleyball this weekend, but Sunday's match will also be a PATCH Party. Games, Music and the UCF Jammin' Knights will make for a great atmosphere inside The Venue.
Season tickets for the 2011 season are available now for only $30, which includes 18 regular-season matches at The Venue at UCF and admission to three home tournaments. Also available for purchase this season is the UCF Gold Pass. For $75, the Gold Pass grants the avid Knights fan admission to all home volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball and track & field events.
Due to event at the UCF Arena on Sept. 23rd & 25th, free parking for the UCF Soccer & Volleyball matches will be located:
Option #1: Baseball grass lot behind the baseball scoreboard: Alafaya Trail to McCulloch Rd to Orion Blvd to West Plaza Dr to Baseball Lot (grass lot behind baseball scoreboard)
Option #2: E8 surface lot located off of Orion Blvd: Alafaya Trail to McCulloch Rd to Orion Blvd to E8 Surface Lot Garage F will be open at $10 per car due to Arena event.