ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- The UCF Volleyball team opens the 2016 season on Friday, hosting the Holiday Inn Express UCF Invitational at The Venue.
The Knights open the season at home for the fourth consecutive year. Playing two matches on the opening day, UCF will play its first match against Stony Brook and before facing Kent State in the nightcap.
"There is a certainly a challenge in playing four matches in two days," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "We have a lot of solid teams coming in, including Stetson an in-state rival, Stony Brook coming down from the northeast who I know is going to be very competitive in their conference, Kent State where Don (the head coach) has done such a great job with his program, and the icing on the cake for us is Florida State."
The Knights continue day two of the tournament with No. 17 FSU at 1 p.m., and then close out against Stetson at 7 p.m. Florida State ranks 17th in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll. This is the first time since 2008 that the Knights have hosted a top 25 team. UCF is the only team in the American Athletic Conference that is playing a top-25 team in their opening weekend.
UCF holds a collective 72-33 record against Kent State, FSU and Stetson. This weekend will mark the first time the Seawolves of Stony Brook and the Knights face off. The Invitational will be the first time in at least 10 years that UCF has played any of the teams.
This season the Knights were ranked fourth in the preseason poll. Jale Hervey, a unanimous selection, and Kia Bright were both named to The American All-Preseason team. Hervey is a two-time All-Conference First Team recipient while Bright returns to the floor after coming off a season-ending injury last year.
UCF returns six starters, a libero and adds in five freshmen and a transfer.
For this weekend's tournament only, the purchase of one ticket will get you into all of the day's matches as long as you can produce your ticket stub.
General admission adult season tickets are now available for $30, and youth tickets (ages 2-17 years) are $15 and good for one-general admission seat to all 2016 regular season home matches. General admission single game tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for youth, seniors (55+) and UCF Faculty Staff. For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit UCFKnights.com or call 407-UCF-1000.