ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF Volleyball (6-5) fell just short of a comeback Saturday morning, ultimately losing to Miami (4-4)in five sets (22-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 11-15) at the Sunshine State Classic in Orlando, Fla.
The Knights fell behind two sets to none to begin the match. They showed fight as they came back to take the third set by a wide margin and followed it up by winning the fourth set to tie the match at two sets apiece. The Black and Gold held a 10-9 lead in the fifth set before Miami went on a 6-1 scoring run to take the set, 15-11, and the match 3-2.
Anne-Marie Watson was a force at the net in the match, tying the UCF single-match record for block assists with 12, set by herself and Kathryn Wesolich last season against Cincinnati. Watson also turned in nine kills in the effort against Miami.
Following the loss, UCF's season record moves to 6-5. They will play the second game of their double-header later today as they take on FAU at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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FIRST SET
McKenna Melville started the night off with a kill to put UCF up 1-0 early in the first set, but Miami would battle back to go up 12-8. UCF kept the set close and tied it at 16 after a Kristina Fisher and Kathryn Wesolich block, and then followed it up by going up 17-16 the following play. With both teams tied at 20, Melville recorded the kill to give UCF the lead, but Miami went on a 5-1 run to claim the set, 25-21.
SECOND SET
Miami went up 11-5 early in the second set and UCF called a timeout to regroup. The timeout worked as UCF came back to go on a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to 12-11, but Miami once again pulled away, outscoring UCF 13-6 over the final half of the set to win, 25-17
THIRD SET
UCF began the third set strong, going up 7-4 early. Nerissa Moravec and Watson had a momentous block to put the Knights up 8-4 and force a Miami timeout. UCF began to pull away, going up 24-15 before the Hurricanes made a push near the end. Overall, it was a strong set for the Knights as they won 25-18 to claim their first set of the match.
FOURTH SET
The fourth set was neck-and-neck throughout, with each team going on small three- or four-point runs, but not pulling away. Near the end of the set, Miami went on a 4-0 scoring run to make it 20-17, but the Knights answered back with a 3-0 run of their own to tie it up at 20, forcing Miami to call a timeout. With UCF up 24-22, McKenna Melville finished the set with a kill to even the match at two sets apiece.
FIFTH SET
The Knights went up 2-0 to begin the fifth set, but Miami answered back to tie it at two. Both teams continued to trade blows until, with UCF up 8-7 when the two teams swapped sides. The Knights held a 10-9 lead set before Miami went on a 6-1 scoring run to take the set, 15-11, and the match 3-2.
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UP NEXT
The Knights will play the second game of their double-header later today as they take on FAU at 7:00 p.m. ET.
