ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF head coach Todd Dagenais announced the Knights' 2017 volleyball schedule on Friday. The 31-game slate features 11 home matches in The Venue at UCF.
Seven contests come against four teams – Cincinnati, Colorado State, SMU and Wichita State – that competed in last year's NCAA Tournament.
The home opener for the Knights is set for Sept. 15 against Virginia in the Holiday Inn Express / UCF Challenge. The three-day event concludes for the hosts vs. Ole Miss on Sept. 17.
Season tickets can be purchased for $30 and include a general admission seat to all home matches. Click here for more information.
Conference Schedule
Home Matches
Sept. 22 vs. East Carolina
Sept. 24 vs. Cincinnati
Oct. 13 vs. UConn - Alumni Weekend
Oct. 15 vs. Temple
Oct. 27 vs. Wichita St. - VolleyBowl X
Oct. 29 vs. Memphis - Volloween
Nov. 10 vs. Tulane
Nov. 12 vs. Houston - Parents Day
Nov. 22 vs. USF - Senior Day, War on I-4
Road Matches
Sept. 29 at Memphis
Oct. 1 at Wichita State
Oct. 6 at Tulsa
Oct. 8 at SMU
Oct. 20 at Houston
Oct. 22 at Tulane
Nov. 3 at Cincinnati
Nov. 5 at East Carolina
Nov. 17 at Temple
Nov. 19 at UConn
Nov. 25 at USF - War on I-4
"The conference became exponentially competitive this year with the addition of Wichita State. They are no strangers to hanging banners and making NCAA Tournament runs. Add that to the fact each and every team has improved this year and the regular season championship is going to be a dog fight. Our conference finished with the No. 6 RPI last year and I wouldn't be shocked if it climbs above some traditional volleyball powerhouses. I wouldn't be surprised to see seven teams in the Top 100 and four to five teams in the Top 50 (in the RPI). At one time, the difference between the top and bottom was vast. Now, the pack is much tighter as schools invest more into their volleyball programs. The difference between fourth and 11th place could be a couple of lucky bounces of the ball. It's going to make it really fun and very entertaining for fans to watch. Every match matters."
- Head Coach Todd Dagenais
Non-Conference Schedule
UNC Bears / CSU Rams Classic (Greeley, Colo./Ft. Collins, Colo.)
Aug. 25 at Northern Colorado
Aug. 26 vs. Duke, at Colorado State
"The non-conference schedule was about returning trips that we owed. This is going to put us on the road a lot early. Our team will need to respond in the same mature manner that they have been showing all spring. It starts early with a trip to a very tough Northern Colorado squad that will contend for a conference championship. Then, the tournament was scheduled, where we play a Top-25 program like Duke in one city, and then travel an hour to play a Top-15 caliber Colorado State team at their place. It's an incredibly challenging opening weekend, but we will get Jordan Pingel (Colorado Springs, Colo.) close to home, play some challenging competition and be in a great recruiting area."
- Head Coach Todd Dagenais
Sunshine State Challenge (Ft. Myers, Fla.)
Sept. 1 vs. Florida Atlantic, at Florida Gulf Coast
Sept. 2 vs. Miami
"UCF and three other Florida schools launched the Sunshine State Challenge. This year, it will start at Florida Gulf Coast and rotate each season. Miami and Florida Atlantic will be the other teams. Each team in the tournament has an opportunity to be a 20-win team and earn a post-season berth."
- Head Coach Todd Dagenais
Central Arkansas Classic (Conway, Ark.)
Sept. 8 vs. Southern, vs. Arkansas State
Sept. 9 at Central Arkansas
"We owed a return trip to Central Arkansas where we will have a chance to play them at home, along with Southern and perennial bid stealer Arkansas State. This is going to be a huge challenge for us because of the teams we are playing, and the fact it's our third weekend on the road in a row."
- Head Coach Todd Dagenais
Holiday Inn Express / UCF Challenge (Orlando, Fla.)
Sept. 15 vs. Virginia
Sept. 17 vs. Ole Miss
"Finally, we get to return home for two big matches before we open conference play. Both Virginia and Ole Miss have agreed to come to Orlando and play us the fourth weekend. Obviously, any time you can play a team from (the ACC or SEC), it leads to an RPI boost and a chance to get some quality wins against other teams who could potentially be 'on the board' Selection Sunday. We need to take advantage of this opportunity."
- Head Coach Todd Dagenais
The Knights posted a 23-10 overall record and 13-7 league mark last season. Redshirt seniors Taylor Wickey and Kia Bright and sophomore Alli Sabol highlight the UCF attack heading into the preseason, which begins in August.