Nov. 10, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF volleyball team will host its final weekend homestand when it welcomes Marshall and East Carolina to The Venue at UCF on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. The Knights (16-10, 8-7) have had the most successful home season since 2003, winning 10 matches inside The Venue.
Sunday's matinee will also serve as Senior Day when setter Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ontario) and student director of volleyball operations Katie Duggan will be honored for their hard work and effort put into the program.
Guiding the Knights' offense to new heights in 2011, Vukson has been one of the nation's best at the setter position all season. The Canadian native is averaging 11.96 assists per set, second in the country, and leads Conference USA in the category.
Racking up the most assists for UCF in the rally scoring era, Vukson is leaving everything on the court in the final matches of her collegiate career.
"I have five games left in the season, and there isn't going to be another opportunity for me to do this again," Vukson said. "It's been four years and I just don't want to take my opportunity for granted and that's why I pretty much go all out."
A transfer from Tulsa after her sophomore season, Vukson has earned the trust of head coach Todd Dagenais is running a offense that allows her to excel. Since taking over as UCF's full-time setter in 2010, Vukson has posted 21 double-doubles in assists and digs over the past two seasons, including 34 matches with 40-plus assists.
"I've had the opportunity to run my own offense and have flourished because of the coaching staff and the opportunities that they have given me," Vukson added.
Although Vukson is the lone senior player being recognized, Duggan will join the standout setter on the court to be honored for her four years of service to the program. Duggan began her career as a libero in 2008 during Dagenais's first year on campus and transitioned into the volleyball operations role that she has occupied over the last three seasons.
Senior Day festivities will occur after UCF's match with the Pirates concludes Sunday afternoon.
Notes: UCF is 4-2 against ECU during the Dagenais era ... Marshall comes into Friday's match one game back in the conference standings at 7-8, while ECU is 0-15 in league play ... The Knights are currently tied for fifth in C-USA with SMU, but are only two games back of second place ... The latest RPI rankings have the Black & Gold at No. 74, the highest ever under Dagenais this late in the season ... Following Sunday's match, UCF will close out its regular season on the road against SMU, Tulsa and UTEP.