ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After splitting the American Athletic Conference opening weekend, the UCF volleyball team continues its league slate this weekend on the road at Memphis on Friday at 8 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, the Knights (8-6, 1-1) will face No. 25 Wichita State at 8 p.m.
"Memphis has always been a tough battle, especially when we've played them on the road," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "We're looking forward to getting in there and battling against a good team. They bring some great challenges for us that we'll have to find a way to maneuver around on Friday.
"Wichita State is a top-25 team with some really big wins this year. We look at them and believe that we can be like them this year. They're experience and battle tested, but we're going to go out and try to take one from them on the road.
"Every conference match is tough, but we crave opportunities to play against great teams. We've got to be ready for both matches in order to come home with two road wins."
LAST TIME OUT
• The Knights opened AAC action last weekend, splitting the two matches, a thrilling five-set victory over ECU on Friday and hard-fought loss to Cincinnati on Sunday.
• Friday's battle was an intense affair, as the Knights took sets two and three, before rallying to an epic 15-12 win in the decisive fifth game.
• Kia Bright was the leader offensively with 4.12 kills per set to go with 3.62 digs per set on the weekend.
• Jordan Pingel was all over the place defensively with 3.75 digs per set. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native ranks third in the program record books with 1,340 career digs.
KIA JOINS THE ELITE
• With her fourth dig of the match against Cincinnati last Sunday, Kia Bright became the fifth player in program history to join the illustrious 1,000 digs, 1,000 kills club.
• The redshirt senior posted a double-double in each match last weekend, taking her season total to nine and her career tally to 41.
• Bright ranks 11th in kills and digs with 1,093 and 1,007, respectively.
MIDDLES MAKING MOVES
• Taylor Wickey moved up to 11th in the nation in hitting percentage at .438, after hitting .667 last weekend.
• Jeanne Westney leads the team in block assists with 40. She is averaging 0.81 blocks per set and is closing in on the program's top-10 for block assists and total blocks in a career.
• After redshirting last season, Nerissa Moravec has blocked seven balls in 20 sets played this year.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
• Memphis enters this weekend at 7-7 overall and 0-2 in AAC action after falling to UCONN and Temple on the road.
• The Tigers rank in the top 100 in blocks (2.3) and digs (15.82) per set, as well as attacks per set (36.73).
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
• The Shockers are 10-3 this season, including a 2-0 mark in league play, with a win over then No. 8 Creighton.
• Wichita State dropped one spot in the AVCA poll to No. 25 this week, after defeating UCONN and Temple last weekend.
• The Shockers lead the conference in hitting percentage (.255), assists (12.93) and kills (13.89).
SERIES HISTORIES
• The Knights will look to improve upon their 19-13 advantage over Memphis this weekend.
• UCF will face Wichita State for the first time in program history on Sunday.
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