Nov. 15, 2015
STORRS, Conn. (UCFKnights.com) - Despite rallying to force a fifth set and a late push to force it to extra points, the UCF volleyball team came up short against UConn. The Knights dropped a 3-2 decision to the Huskies in Gampel Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.
UCF (14-14, 8-8 AAC) came out strong, scoring eight of its first nine points on kills while hitting .700 as a team. The Knights never trailed in the set, reclaiming the lead each time UConn rallied to tie the score. Junior Jale Hervey's kill broke a 21-21 tie and sparked a three-point swing that pushed the Knights to the 25-22 opening set victory.
Freshman Miranda Watkins opened the second set with an ace and started a three-point spurt for the Knights, but the Huskies responded with three points of their own to tie the score. The teams traded points, but once UConn took a 12-11 lead, the Knights were unable to catch them. The Huskies pulled away for a 25-19 set win that evened the match at 1-1.
UConn took an early lead in the third set and held off a late rally from the Knights to take a 25-22 victory.
Trailing 2-1 in the match, the Knights battled in the fourth set. The teams matched each other point-for-point until redshirt sophomore Taylor Wickey helped the Knights take an 18-17 edge. She and junior Taylor Gallart teamed up for a block to extend the UCF advantage. After UConn tied the score at 22, a block from Hervey and sophomore Ann Richards put the Knights back on top. A kill from Hervey extended the Black and Gold lead, and Richards delivered the set point to send the teams to a decisive fifth set.
UConn took a 4-0 lead early in the fifth, but the Knights battled back and Hervey cut the lead to one, 6-5, with a kill. After the Huskies pushed out to a 13-10 lead, senior Abbie Fleener delivered back-to-back kills to pull the Knights within one. Another Fleener kill and an attack error by the Huskies tied the score at 14, but UConn used a kill and a block to close out the set and earn the match victory with a 14-16 win.
Taylor Gallart and Abbie Fleener each tallied 14 kills for the Knights, while freshman Jordan Pingel finished with a match-high 25 digs. Redshirt freshman Maddie Haggerty posted a double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs. Taylor Wickey and Ann Richards each had three blocks for the Knights.
Next Up
• UCF, who is presented by Holiday Inn Orlando East UCF Area, is back at The Venue on Nov. 20, hosting Memphis for Parents Night at 7 p.m.
• Dana Faught, Abbie Fleener and Shelby Foyer will be recognized for Senior Day on Nov. 22 as the Knights host Cincinnati in the home finale.
Story by Megan Herboth; Photos by Simone Amaduzzi