Jan. 6, 2012
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF Athletics announced Friday that it has extended the contract of volleyball head coach Todd Dagenais through the 2014 season. In 2011, the Knights completed their best season since 2003 after amassing a 20-11 record and program-high 12 Conference USA victories.
"The entire coaching staff has been energized by the growth and development of our program over the last four years, and we are happy to be given the opportunity to continue building upon that success," Dagenais said.
The team finished 16-16 in 2010, but broke out in 2011 thanks to leadership from Dagenais, assistant head coach Michelle Chatman and assistant coach Erik Peterson. The Knights enjoyed their first 20-win season since 2003, their most Conference USA victories (12) since joining the league in 2005 and a tie for fourth place overall in the season-ending standings.
Aside from the stellar play in C-USA, the Knights solidified themselves on the national scene by upending No. 3 USC in three sets at the FGCU Homewood Suites Invitational and finishing non-conference play with an 8-3 record.
Under Dagenais' tutelage, four student-athletes garnered postseason awards in 2011. Sophomore Angelica Crump (Atlanta, Ga.) and senior Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ontario) earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, becoming just the second and third players in program history to earn the honor. Crump and Vukson also earned AVCA All-Region accolades for their stellar play on the court.
C-USA also honored Crump with a spot on the all-conference first team while Vukson and junior Evija Vilde (Riga, Latvia) made the All-C-USA Second Team. Freshman middle blocker DeLaina Sarden (Lawrenceville, Ga.) also become the program's first recipient of the C-USA Freshman of the Year award.
The upcoming 2012 season looks to be another solid campaign as the Knights return five of six starters in the quest for their first postseason appearance since 2003.