ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Playing its final two-match home stand of the year, the UCF volleyball team returns to The Venue this weekend to face Tulane on Friday at 7 p.m. and Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m.
UCF will be giving out 1,000 student tickets to the War on I-4 at Friday's contest against the Green Wave.
"The match down in New Orleans against Tulane was a lot closer than what the scores showed," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "That was a tough match. They're coming for their redemption. We have to put our focus on Tulane and be consumed with our side of the net. If we do that, I think we can take care of business. The first match against Houston was a tough one. They're very young and athletic and incredibly scrappy on defense. They're going to bring that brand of defense in here, and we need to be on point offensively if we're going to score points against them.
"The other thing that we're looking at is a bid to the NIVC. That's something that we're fighting for. If we can be at an RPI of 100 or better, we know that we're going to have a great shot at getting an at-large selection. These matches are not only important to the conference standings, but they will have a big impact on our postseason opportunities."
SUNDAY FUNDAY
• The Knights have a packed event schedule for Sunday's matchup against the Cougars.
• UCF will induct is 2017 Ring of Honor Class, featuring Laura Smith and Lucy McDaniel.
• In honor of Military Appreciation Day, the first 100 fans will receive a UCF American flag drawstring bag.
• The Marching Knights will a Military tribute on Sunday as well.
RING OF HONOR
• The Knights will honor two of the most impactful women in UCF Volleyball history.
• Lucy McDaniel was the first coach in program history and amassed a school record 236 wins, including a perfect 55-0 record that led to the 1978 AIAW National Championship.
• Laura Smith was an All-American on the 1978 squad for UCF, and later returned to take the reins of the program from 1991-97, leading the Knights to five ASUN titles.
FIVE SIGN FOR UCF
• On Wednesday, the Knights announced their 2018 signing class of five players.
• Setter Amber Olson will reunite with her sister, and current setter, Erin Olson when she arrives on campus next summer.
• Briana Garcia is an Under Armour All-American and one of the top right sides in Texas.
• Middle blocker Kathryn Wesolich powered Lafayette High School to back-to-back Missouri state titles.
• Libero McKenna Melville is one a well-rounded athlete Dagenais has recruited. The Eagan, Minn., native was named the Minneapolis Metro Player of the Year by the Star Tribune.
• Defensive specialist/libero Bailey Wilson guided her club team OTVA to three straight Junior National Championships.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Knights split last weekend's road swing with a victory at Cincinnati and a loss at ECU.
• UCF swept the Bearcats behind a .237 hitting percentage, while Cincinnati was held to a clip of .057. The Black and Gold tallied 12 blocks in three sets, led by Taylor Wickey and Anne-Marie Watson with six apiece.
• The Knights fell 3-1 to a hot ECU squad on Sunday, despite hitting .214.
SCOUTING TULANE
• Tulane is 11th in the AAC with a 2-12 mark and a 13-14 record overall.
• Justine Bowers and Kaylie McHugh continue to rank among the top servers in the league this year. Both are averaging 3.8 services aces per match.
• Averaging 2.26 kills per set, Dayna Kern leads a Green Wave offense that features four players with more than two scoring swings per set.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
• With a 9-13 record this season, the Cougars are 5-9 in conference play, one game back of the Knights.
• Houston leads the league in service aces with 1.53 per set, led by Sarah Afflerbaugh's 3.45 per match.
• Katie Karbo ranks 24th in the nation and third in the AAC in digs per set with 5.32.
SERIES HISTORIES
• Following a 3-1 victory in New Orleans earlier this season, the Knights hold a healthy 15-8 advantage over the Green Wave.
• UCF will look to bounce back after a 3-1 defeat to Houston three weeks ago which gave the Cougars a 12-8 advantage in the series rivalry.
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