ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com)—A pair of Knights were named American Athletic Conference First Team on Tuesday afternoon. Redshirt junior Kia Bright was a unanimous selection and senior Jalé Hervey was also placed on the team.
"We are proud and very thankful to the coaches of the league who voted Kia and Jalé to First Team All-AAC," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "They will be the first to tell you that volleyball is the ultimate team sport and it takes passers and setters to gain the statistics needed for these awards. There is no doubt they carried an immense burden for our team this year. Their success allowed the growth of our younger players like Jeanne Wesney and Alli Sabol. However, knowing these two competitors, they would gladly trade in these awards for a championship or a bid into the NCAA Tournament. We are thrilled to keep our streak alive of having players recognized at the highest level in the conference. That is truly a sign of growth and stability."
Bright earned her second All-AAC First Team honor as a Knight after collecting the accolade in 2014. This season she was named The American Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17.
Overall, Bright finished with 333 kills, 379 digs and 36 total blocks during the 2016 campaign. The Starke, Fla., native recorded 219 kills, averaging 3.08 kills per set, hitting at a .215 clip in conference action. The outside hitter also registered 242 digs.
Hervey earned first team honors for the third consecutive year. She was named The American Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, once on Sept. 26 and again on Nov. 7.
The Huntsville, Ala., native finished with 504 kills this season, hitting at a .265 clip and averaging 4.42 kills per set. The outside hitter also tallied 333 digs. Hervey posted 306 kills in conference play, averaging 4.17 kills per set, with a .417 hitting percentage and 198 digs.
UCF Volleyball, which is presented by Holiday Inn Orlando East UCF Area, finished the season with a 23-10 overall record, and a 13-7 mark in The American. With two all-conference selections this season, the Knights have earned multiple all-conference honorees for six consecutive seasons. UCF has posted at least one player on the all-conference team during all nine years of Dagenais' tenure.