ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF volleyball team opens the 2017 campaign this weekend with a three-match road swing in Colorado. Head coach Todd Dagenais enters his 10th year at the helm of the program.
The Knights face Northern Colorado on Friday night at 9 p.m. (ET), which will be broadcasted on Comcast in Colorado.
Saturday will feature a 1 p.m. (ET) start against Duke in Greeley, Colo., before the Knights travel to Fort Collins to face reigning Mountain West Conference champion Colorado State at 10 p.m. (ET)
"We're here to win matches, but our record this weekend really is a secondary outcome," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "Rather we are 3-0 0-3 or somewhere in between, I want us focusing on a process through the first four weeks heading into conference. This weekend is about learning each other and seizing opportunities to win matches when those opportunities are there."
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
• Redshirt-senior Kia Bright was a unanimous Preseason All-AAC selection for the third time in her career. The Starke, Fla., native needs 109 kills and 175 digs to become the fifth member of the 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills club in program history.
• Libero Jordan Pingel guided the Knights to a new school record of 17.1 digs per set last season, as she notched the 1,000th dig of her career as a sophomore.
• Taylor Wickey posted 15 games with an attack percentage over .400 in 2016.
DECADE OF DAGENAIS
• Head coach Todd Dagenais is the longest serving coach in program history, starting his tenure with the Knights in January 2008.
• Dagenais needs 24 victories to overtake Laura Smith as the school's winningest coach.
ROAD WARRIORS
• UCF opens the season with nine matches on the road, marking the longest stretch away from home to start a campaign in the Todd Dagenais era.
• After this weekend, the Knights head to the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic against Florida Atlantic, Miami and host Florida Gulf Coast.
• Following a tournament at Central Arkansas, UCF will return to The Venue for the VolleyKnights Invitational on Sept. 15 against Virginia and Sept. 17 against Ole Miss.
SERIES HISTORIES
• The Knights swept Northern Colorado in 2015 to take a 2-1 series advantage.
• Saturday will be the first meeting between UCF and Duke since 1984 with the series split at 1-1.
• The final contest of the weekend will be the first matchup for the Knights against Colorado State in program history.
DON'T MISS OUT
UCF Volleyball hits the court for its 10th season under head coach Todd Dagenais. Don't miss a single minute of action at The Venue. Visit UCFKnights.com or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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