Oct. 16, 2015
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF volleyball team challenged the league-leading SMU Mustangs on Friday evening, but came up short in a 3-2 loss in American Athletic Conference action at The Venue.
I thought we did some really nice things, head coach Todd Dagenais said. I'm proud of our fight; I'm proud of our energy. I'm proud of our hustle. We just don't give up.
UCF (9-10, 3-4 AAC) went toe-to-toe with SMU (16-3, 6-1 AAC), holding off a rally from the Mustangs in the first set. The Black and Gold responded to a second-set loss by opening the third set on a 4-0 run.
In the fourth set, the Knights found themselves at match point against the Mustangs, who are receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25. SMU closed the set on a 7-2 run to force the match to a decisive fifth set. The Knights were unable to contain the Mustangs down the stretch, falling 15-6.
A trio of Knights tallied double figure kills, led by junior Jale Hervey, who finished with 20. Senior Abbie Fleener chipped in 17, while junior Taylor Gallart recorded 13 kills. Redshirt sophomore Taylor Wickey served up a pair of aces and posted a team-high five blocks.
Think Pink
• The Knights donned their pink uniforms for the annual breast cancer awareness match.
Senior Abbie Fleener on tonight's Pink Match: We all like wearing pink, but it's nice to support a good cause. There's bigger things in life than volleyball, and I think that's what it shows.
Coach Dagenais on the Pink Match: Breast cancer is something that certainly has affected all of us in some way, shape or form. To have the honor to celebrate survivors, to remember those that we've lost and to find a way to raise awareness and maybe get a cure for those down the road that are going to be afflicted by it, it's nice that our sport gets behind it.
Next Up
• UCF, who is presented by Holiday Inn Orlando East UCF Area, is back in action at The Venue on Sunday against Tulsa at 2 p.m.
• The Hurricane earned a 3-1 victory at USF on Friday.
Story by Megan Herboth; Video by Rachel White