TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com)--UCF Volleyball (21-7, 11-5 AAC) put an end to Tulsa's (18-10, 7-9 AAC) five-match winning streak as the Knights recorded their 13th sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-18) victory on Saturday afternoon. The Black and Gold swept both matches with the Golden Hurricane this season.
"When the schedule comes out at the beginning of the year, you always look to see when you play SMU and Tulsa because it is one of the most if not the most competitive road trips of the year," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "You always hope you get to play that trip early, when you're a little bit fresher and not quite as stressed from academics, and of course we look at it and see that we play in November. The thing I'm most proud of today is that we mentally recovered from the lost against SMU and it didn't detract from our spirit, our energy, or our goals. We played out there with a passion and a purpose, that we have bigger things that we are trying to accomplish.
Offensively, I thought we really won the serve and pass game, better than we have in any match this year. I thought more than anything else that we let the loss go, we focused on the next task with laser precision and very methodically went about our game plan."
The Knights started the first set strong going on an 8-5 run. The Black and Gold held that momentum and took the first set 25-14. Tulsa came back fighting in the second set, keeping it close until the Knights went on a 10-5 run to take the set by a tally of 25-20.
Following the break, the Knights went up 3-2 on a Taylor Gallart kill and never looked back. Tulsa tried to keep it close, tying the score five times. But UCF was focused and never lost the lead. Taylor Wickey and Gallart clinched the match with a block to end Tulsa's winning streak.
Defensive Dominance
- Five players registered 10 or more digs in the three set victory.
- Sophomore Jordan Pingel tallied a career three-set high with 24 digs, followed by redshirt junior Kia Bright with 17.
- Senior Jalé Hervey posted 12 digs. Sophomore Miranda Watkins and junior Farah Rajaee both recorded 11 digs.
Dagenais on defense: "Jordan Pingel had 19 digs through two sets (and) was great reading and great playing on her part."
Offensive Equality
- Five players finished with five or more kills in the victory
- Hervey led the group with 17, while Bright posted nine.
- Freshman Alli Sabol posted eight kills, while senior Taylor Gallart made seven.
- Redshirt junior Taylor Wickey rounded out the group with six.
Block Party
- Wickey contributed to every one of Knights' nine team blocks.
- The nine blocks are a career-high for Wickey.
- Gallart finished with career-high seven blocks.
Dagenais on Wickey: "She did a great job of contributing across the board. I thought she was a staple in our block and got back into some offensive rhythm where she had been struggling lately. I thought she did a great job."
Up Next
- UCF returns home for its final home weekend.
- The Knights take on Temple on Friday and UConn on Sunday for senior day.
- The Black and Gold will be honoring Jalé Hervey, Taylor Gallart and Halle Scott on Sunday, Nov. 20.