ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com)— The UCF volleyball team went 1-1 in American Athletic Conference play last weekend on the road.
Sophomore Jordan Pingel was named The American Defensive Player of the Week following her superb performances on the weekend. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native helped the team to a 1-1 weekend, sweeping Tulsa and falling to conference leader SMU. The libero led UCF defensively to end Tulsa's five-match win streak with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-18) victory over the Golden Hurricane. Pingel registered a career three-set high 24 digs in the victory along with four assists. Against SMU, she tallied 17 digs and two assists.
The Knights fell 0-3 (17-25, 17-25, 22-25) to conference leading SMU on Thursday night. Freshman Alli Sabol led the team with 10 kills, hitting at a .381 clip. The Dublin, Ohio native made just two errors in the match. This is the right side hitter's ninth match with double-digit kills. This is the sixth time Sabol has recorded double-digit kills and had over a .300 hitting percentage.
"We knew headed into last weekend that it was going to be the most competitively challenging road trip in conference this year," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "Sure enough we walked into SMU and they had what you might call the eye of the tiger, they could feel it, they know it's (conference championship) right there. There was no doubt in their mind that they weren't going to give us an inch. They have been vulnerable during the year, but they didn't show any that vulnerability against us. We had nothing to take advantage of, and we couldn't generate enough offensive output as they did."
UCF put an end to Tulsa's 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. Five players registered 10 or more digs in the three set victory. 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.
Redshirt junior Taylor 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.
"We had to turn around and play another top-50, top-55 team two days later," said Dagenais. "I think the team left no doubt about what their goals are, what they are trying to do. The win over Tulsa was huge, especially to do it in three (sets). I was surprised that we came out and handled the first set the way we did. We did a fantastic job with the game plan and shutting Tulsa down from being able to score."
The Knights return to The Venue for their final home weekend. The Knights host Temple for Family Night on Friday evening, followed by Senior Day against UConn on Sunday.
