Oct. 5, 2014
Final Stats
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By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. - The UCF volleyball team posted its second dominating performance of the weekend as the Knights earned a straight-set (25-17, 25-14, 25-15) win over UConn at The Venue at UCF on Sunday afternoon. The Knights improved to 11-5 overall and remain the only team undefeated in American Athletic Conference action with a 4-0 record. .
"I thought this was probably as complete of a match as we've played," UCF head coach Todd Dagenais said. "I thought it was a pretty complete weekend."
UCF got off to a quick start, scoring the first four points of the day. A three-point run by UConn (9-6, 2-2 AAC) pulled the Huskies within two, 9-7, but the Knights used a pair of kills from sophomore Jale Hervey to extend the lead. Senior Loren Cory hit back-to-back kills, forcing a UConn timeout with UCF in front 19-10. The Huskies scored two points out of the huddle, but the Black and Gold put the set away, 25-17, on a kill from senior Kaye-Alese Green.
The Knights posted another strong start to the second set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead after consecutive kills from Cory. After a short run from UConn to make it 13-9, UCF started a 5-0 run on a kill from senior DeLaina Sarden. A Hervey kill put the Knights up 20-12 and forced the second timeout of the set for the Huskies. UCF closed out with a 5-2 run and another Hervey kill gave the Knights a 25-14 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
UConn took an early lead in the third set, but UCF's right side came through again, this time with junior Abbie Fleener giving the Knights a 6-5 lead. After trading points, the Knights put some distance between the teams with a four-point run that prompted a UConn timeout. UCF scored three of the next six points, forcing a second timeout for the Huskies. Green and sophomore Kia Bright teamed up to deny a UConn attack, and then Green paired with Fleener to deny a second attack by the Huskies, putting UCF up 23-14. Bright followed a Fleener kill with the match-winning kill, giving the Knights their second sweep of the weekend.
"I am so proud of our setters for this weekend," Dagenais said. "This is their hard work, making the right reads and our hitters going up and putting the balls away. This is a really compliant team right now and that gives us a chance."
UCF hit .404 for the match, posting scorching percentages of .429 and .438 in the first and second set, respectively. The Knights limited UConn to a .079 team hitting percentage with none of the Huskies recording more than six kills.
Hervey led UCF with 12 kills and hit .333. Three Knights hit .500 or above, led by Sarden's .533 attack percentage with nine kills. Green hit . 500 with six kills and five combined blocks. On the right side, Fleener hit . 500 with seven kills and two blocks. Cory finished with six kills and no errors in 16 attempts for a .375 hitting percentage. Bright recorded 14 digs, nine kills and an ace. Senior Jade Hayes tallied 14 digs for the Knights. Junior Dana Faught recorded 22 assists and senior Marie Reiterova tallied 18 assists.
Next up, the Knights travel down I-4 for a midweek match-up with in-state rival USF at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
UCF Volleyball is presented by Radisson- UCF Area. For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit UCFKnights.com or call 407-UCF-1000.