Oct. 27, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - This weekend when the UCF volleyball team hosts Houston Friday night at 7 p.m. and Rice Sunday at 1 p.m. at The Venue, some familiar faces will be in attendance for the two highly-important Conference USA tilts. With it being Homecoming week on campus, the program will welcome back many alumni who donned the Black and Gold from years past.
Slated to be in attendance are more than 20 former Knights, including all-time standouts Renata Menchikova, Tyra Turner (formerly Harper) and 2011 UCF Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Jenny Frank.
Menchikova (1995-97) and Harper (1994-97) played at UCF together in the mid-90s and were quite a force on the front line. The duo finds their names littered throughout the record book as Menchikova is the school's all-time leader in kills (2,151), and Harper ranks as the best middle blocker in UCF history, owning the most block assists (475), block solos (156) and total blocks (631).
Frank, who will be inducted next Friday, Nov. 4, was a standout setter for UCF from 2000-03. She led the Knights to three NCAA Championship appearances, and was a four year starter that earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Year as a senior. She ranks second all-time in career assists (4,825), fifth in service aces (149) and No. 7 in digs (1,111).
The former Knights, who will be recognized on court Friday night, will be treated to some high-octane volleyball.
Houston arrives in Orlando having won six-consecutive C-USA matches, and is No. 2 in the league standings. Two weeks ago in Texas, the Knights fell to the Cougars, 3-1, in an offensive showdown. UCF will be looking to upend Houston for the first time ever in C-USA play.
Sunday's matinee will be another rematch from two weeks ago when the Knights topped Rice, 3-1, in Houston for their first win over the Owls since 1999. Senior setter Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ontario) hoisted 60 assists in four sets, and outside hitters Angelica Crump (Atlanta, Ga.) and Evija Vilde (Riga, Latvia) spiked 24 and 22 kills, respectively.
"Both us and Rice are a mirror images of each other and it's going to come down to execution, and whoever executes better Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. This is as much of a toss up as any match could be," head coach Todd Dagenais said.
The UCF Student Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring a canned food drive from Oct. 28-Nov. 3. Collections will be taken conveniently at several sporting events during the weekend, including at both volleyball matches. Donations can always be dropped off at Old Wayne Densch, Building 38.