Sept. 5, 2014
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
Manhattan, Kan. - UCF Volleyball remained undefeated while earning a fifth sweep in the first six matches after a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) win over Arkansas at the Varney's Invitational, hosted by Kansas State in Bramlage Coliseum on Friday evening. With one of the biggest wins in program history, the Knights improved to 6-0 overall.
"The tenacity and resilience of this team really came through in this match," UCF head coach Todd Dagenais said. "Instead of depending on one or two people for leadership, we had an entire roster of players who going out to the floor that were providing the type of leadership they're each capable of providing. That leadership puts you in the position to execute like we did tonight."
The Knights had five players who recorded a .300 hitting percentage or better and finished with a team hitting percentage of .389. The Knight held Arkansas, who was receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, to a .194 team percentage. UCF hit .484 in the second set and .433 in the third set.
The opening set was a battle, as the teams knotted the score 12 times and traded leads eight times. With Arkansas leading 19-17, UCF was forced to take a timeout. The Knights came out of the huddle to score the next eight points and win the set.
Another back-and-forth start to the second set picked up quickly as senior Marie Reiterova put the ball in the perfect spot for senior DeLaina Sarden and the Knights took a 10-9 lead. UCF maintained its hold on the lead, despite runs from Arkansas. The Knights, leading 18-16, scored seven of the final 10 points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Knights used combinations of blocks and kills from sophomore Jale Hervey and seniors Loren Cory and Kaye-Alese Green to take control of the third set. The Razorbacks put together a run at the end, but Green ended the match with her seventh kill of the night.
"It was our day today and we executed really well," Dagenais said.
Six players finished with four or more kills, led by Hervey's match-high 15. She also recorded five digs and a solo block, while finishing with a .500 hitting percentage. Sarden turned nine of her 13 attacks into kills, posting a team-best .692 hitting percentage. In addition to Green's seven kills, she tallied a team-high three blocks. Sophomore Kia Bright and junior Abbie Fleener added five kills each for UCF, while Cory finished the night with four kills.
Reiterova just missed a double-double, finishing with a team-high 22 assists and nine digs. Junior Dana Faught posted 15 assists, while senior Jade Hayes recorded eight digs and an ace.
UCF Volleyball, which is presented by Radisson - UCF Area, wraps up the Varney's Invitational against host Kansas State at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.