ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Set to host an action packed weekend, the UCF volleyball team returns to the Venue to open the second half of the American Athletic Conference season.
On Friday, the Knights (11-11, 4-6) will face No. 21 Wichita State at 7 p.m. in VolleyBowl X. Sunday's contest will pit UCF against Memphis at 12 p.m. for Volloween.
VOLLEY BOWL X
• One of the loudest matches of the year, VolleyBowl is now in its 10th edition under head coach Todd Dagenais.
• The first 100 students through the gates will receive a free T-Shirt.
• The Knights are 6-3 in VolleyBowls, including four straight wins.
• The largest crowd in program history came in VolleyBowl VI on Sept. 27, 2013, in a sweep of USF.
VOLLOWEEN
• Prior to the match, UCF will have Halloween themed activity stations and trick or treating for fans 12 years old or younger.
• For those too old for the pregame festivities, all fans are encouraged to wear their best Halloween costume. During the intermission, the best outfit will receive a UCF prize pack.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Knights split last weekend's matches at Houston and Tulane to move into tie for sixth in the AAC.
• Despite hitting over .200 in three sets, UCF could not hold off a strong finish by Houston on Friday. Kia Bright went for 15 kills, with seven in the final set, and Jordan Pingel added 22 digs.
• The Black and Gold bounced back with an emphatic 3-1 win over Tulane to close the weekend. The Knights hit over .445 in the first two sets to take a commanding lead, finishing the match with a season-high .377 clip.
OFFENSE FINDING ITS RHYTHM
• With a mixture of newcomers and veteran experience, the UCF attack has steadily found its rhythm this year.
• The Knights have hit above .220 in 12 matches this season. With a .229 clip on the campaign, UCF ranks fourth in the league.
• Kia Bright has led the way offensively with 3.72 kills per set, good for fifth in the conference, followed by Kristina Fisher at 2.76.
• Taylor Wickey enters the weekend with the second best attack percentage in the AAC at .382.
• The setters have continuously put the Knights in a position to score. Miranda Watkins and Erin Olson have teamed up to average 11.35 assists per set.
MOVING UP THE CAREER CHARTS
• With 1,490 career digs, Pingel continues to climb her way towards second place in the program record books.
• The Knights' current middle blockers are proving to be two of the best in school history. Wickey ranks ninth in block assists with 234. Jeanne Westney is six block solos away from moving into the career top-10.
• It comes as no surprise that Bright sits seventh in block solos (59), seventh in kills (1,219) and 10th in digs (1,115).
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
• The Shockers held steady at No. 21 in this week's AVCA Coaches' Poll. The AAC newcomers lead the conference with a 10-0 record, 18-3 overall.
• Wichita State is averaging 14.51 kills per set, which ranks 10th in the nation. The Shockers lead the AAC in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills and blocks.
• Tabitha Brown and Abbie Lehman power the offense with 3.75 and 3.47 kills per set, the latter leads the AAC in hitting percentage at .405
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
• The Tigers are 8-14 this season with a 1-9 mark in conference action.
• The Memphis offense has four players averaging more than two kills per set, topped by Tai Bierri at 2.78.
• Brianna Kadiku and Sarah Marlatt are each averaging more than one block per set.
SERIES HISTORIES
• After the Shockers won a 3-1 decision against the Knights earlier this season, Friday will be the first ever matchup between UCF and Wichita State in Orlando. The Black and Gold is one of three teams to take a set from Wichita State in league play.
• The Knights continue to lead their series with Memphis 20-13 after winning a five-set contest earlier this year.
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