Oct. 2, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF volleyball team concluded its two-match road trip with a 3-0 (23-25, 18-25, 23-25) loss at Marshall Sunday afternoon from the Cam Henderson Center. The Knights (11-5, 3-2) were limited to a season-low hitting percentage of .089 in the loss to the Thundering Herd (3-12, 2-2).
Head coach Todd Dagenais takes full responsibility for the team's shortcomings on Sunday.
"I think this one is on me and the coaching staff," Dagenais said. "I didn't have the team was ready to play this match, and I have to make sure that when we are on the road like this that I have this team more prepared to play."
Marshall managed to outhit UCF by .100 and recorded 12 more block assists than the Knights.
"Marshall came out and was very comfortable and very composed," Dagenais said. "I thought that they executed pretty well. They were certainly not the team we've seen on tape from their previous matches. They deserved to win this match."
Continuing to thrive in the starting lineup for the Knights is freshman DeLaina Sarden (Lawrenceville, Ga.). The talented rookie middle blocker recorded a team-high 11 kills (.333), and has now slammed down double-digit daggers in three-straight matches.
"I thought that in spurts we played extremely well," Dagenais added. "It's very important that we play every point as if our backs were against the wall. I'm not sure that I've created the adversity that can happen in a match every day in practice so that when we step onto the court, we are prepared for whatever comes our way."
Sophomore Angelica Crump (Atlanta, Ga.) managed double-digit kills once again for the Knights, and senior setter Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ontario) dished out 31 assists. Leading the way on the defensive end for UCF was junior libero Meredith Murphy. The Austin, Texas, native covered the floor with a team-high 18 digs.
The Knights will return home when they take on UAB next Friday and Saturday from The Venue at UCF.