ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF volleyball team returned to The Venue for its first practice of the 2018 season on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights have 10 days until their preseason exhibition against Tampa on Aug. 18 and 16 days before the start of the regular season at the Sunshine State Classic down in Miami.
Unlike previous seaosns, Wednesday was not the first day of practice for the 2018 squad. The Knights already have 21 days under their belts for their tour of Puerto Rico, where the Black and Gold went 6-1 on the trip.
Jordan Pingel sits just 335 digs away from becoming the first player in program history to surpass the 2,000-dig mark in her career and take over the top spot in the team's record book. On top of that, she is the lone senior on this season's squad. Juniors Alli Sabol and Erin Olson will lend their experience as the only juniors this year.
Kristina FIsher and Anne-Marie Watson hope to build upon their impressive rookie campaigns during the 2017 season, while Lache Harper, Mary Kate Painter and Nerissa Moravec look to step into more prominent roles in the new year.
The newest batch of Knights features the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year McKenna Melville and Under Armour All-America Honorable Mention Briana Garcia. Amber Olson will rotate in the setter's spot with her sister Erin after two years apart. Bailey Wilson, Kathryn Wesolich and Paulina Perez Rosas will also make contributions this year.
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