CARBONDALE, Ill. (UCFKnights.com)— The UCF volleyball team dropped the first set against Northern Arizona before coming back and winning the next three sets for a 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22) victory.
"Knowing the extreme challenge we were going to go through in this tournament - playing three teams that are in the top 50 in the nation and having to do so on the road - we knew there was a possibility of coming down here and going 0-3," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "This is a very important win for our program. All the tools were there for us to put things together, and when we do, I think we are a very formidable opponent."
The Knights rallied the Lumberjacks back and forth in the first set, until NAU went on a seven-point run to clinch the set 25-19. The second set continued the tight battle between the teams. UCF at one point led by eight points before securing the second set on a four-point streak. The Black and Gold started the third set a little slow before tying up the score at 17. The Knights won four consecutive points following a Northern Arizona timeout, which gained the momentum to settle the third set. UCF went into the fourth swinging as they took an early 9-4 lead. The Lumberjacks took a timeout and promptly score five back-to-back points to tie it up. NAU led 18-16 prior to UCF winning five straight points to go up 21-18. The Knights went on a 4-2 run to seal the deal.
Even Strength
- Four Knights recorded 10 or more kills in the match.
- Jalé Hervey tallied 17 kills, Alli Sabol posted 12 kills, Taylor Gallart made 11 kills and Ann Richards forced 10 kills.
Jeanne on the Block
- Freshman Jeanne Westney posted a season-high five blocks in today's match.
- She also tallied six kills and two digs.
Double-Double
- Hervey recorded her third double-double on the season and second consecutive.
- The senior logged a season-high 17 digs along with two aces.
- "Jale came in and picked up a great deal of flack (slack), back up like she did last year," Dagenais said.
Aloha Alli
- Freshman Alli Sabol made her collegiate debut against Northern Arizona.
- She recorded 12 kills, and three block assists.
- "I thought Alli Sabol came in and did a nice job of stabilizing the court," said Dagenais.
Defensive Diggers
- Sophomore Jordan Pingel had multiple season-highs against NAU.
- The Colorado Springs, Colo., native tallied 29 digs, eight assists, two
- "If you look at Jordan and her 29 digs in four sets and its really unbelievable," Dagenais said.
- Kia Bright helped Knights in a defensive role today, recording a season-high 14 digs for the third time this season.
- "Kia took a defensive role, where she didn't have to jump, had 14 more digs," said Dagenais.
Up Next
- The Black and Gold wrap up play in the Saluki Invitational against Western Michigan at 5:30 p.m.