TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com)-- For the second time this season, the UCF volleyball team swept rival USF, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 26-24) in a War On I-4 matchup. The Knights have not dropped a match to the Bulls since the 2012 season.
"Anytime you go on the road and face your archrival, a team that you're only one game ahead of in the standings, you know they are going to be hungry," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "All week I kept thinking that we were going to get the best of South Florida because of how hungry they would be and how scrappy they are, and what they are capable of doing. The thing we appreciated from our team was that there was no panic, they always have that feeling that they have the chance of coming back and winning, almost like they have the expectation of it. We have become a confident team that knows who they are and they know they don't have to be perfect to win."
The Knights (19-7, 9-4 AAC) and Bulls started in a close battle. UCF pulled away with 20-17 lead. The Black and Gold took the first set with Kia Bright kill. UCF started strong with a 9-5 lead, USF kept trying to close the gap bringing the score with two, 20-18. Four Jalé Hervey kills help the Knights go on a 5-2 run to clinch the second set.
The Bulls came out swinging following the break, taking a 10-7 lead. USF held that lead until UCF tied it up at 22. The two teams went back and forth before the Knights clinched the victory with a Taylor Wickey ace.
She Can Dig It
- Sophomore Jordan Pingel reached her 1,000th career dig in the victory.
- The Colorado Springs, Colo., native recorded 13 digs in the match.
- The libero sits with 436 digs this season.
Above and Beyond
- The Knights had three players hit above .300 in the victory.
- Freshman Jeanne Westney hit at a .429 clip, followed by redshirt junior Kia Bright with a .371 hitting percentage.
- Senior Jalé Hervey finished the night hitting at a .333 clip.
Double-Digit Divas
- Five players finish with double-digit numbers in their respective area.
- Hervey lead the team with 19 kills and 17 digs, followed by Bright with 16 kills.
- Sophomore Miranda Watkins finished with 25 assists, followed by junior Farah Rajaee with 20.
- Pingel finished with 13 digs on the evening.
Up Next
- UCF goes on the road to Memphis this weekend.
- The Knights and Tigers are scheduled to take the court Sunday, November 6 at 1 p.m.