TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) – The Knights (14-6, 7-1) capped off a strong weekend Sunday afternoon with a sweep over Tulsa (12-9, 5-3) on the road (25-17, 25-13, 25-23), pushing their winning streak to five straight games.
The Knights were in control of the match from the first point on, outscoring the Golden Hurricane 75 points to 53, including a 12-point margin of victory in the second set. Tulsa put up a fight near the end of the third set, but it was too little, too late as the Knights went on to finish off the set, putting the bow on a 3-0 sweep and undefeated weekend.
"To come out this weekend and finish off with a sweep today, giving us a road sweep, two more conference wins, wins against the other… it was a big deal for us," UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais said. "I thought we served the ball extremely well compared to how to how we served a couple nights ago, and I thought the serve-pass game really set up our offense which I thought was on fire for two sets against one of the best, if not the best defensive team in the conference."
Once again, the Knights were solid at the net, posting 12 blocks, including five from Lache Harper, bringing her weekend total to 15 in just seven sets played. Kristina Fisher continued her strong senior campaign, posting 13 kills and 13 digs while hitting at a .429 clip.
The Black and Gold return home to kick off a stretch of five of six home games as they will take on Houston and Tulane next weekend in The Venue.
Continue to follow UCF Volleyball on Facebook (/UCF.Volleyball), Twitter (@UCF_Volleyball) and Instagram (@UCF.Volleyball) for the latest on the UCF volleyball team.
FIRST SET
The Knights began the first set up 6-2 after going on an early four-point scoring run, and they held on to the lead throughout the set. Anne-Marie Watson and Nerissa Moravec teamed up for a rejection at the net to close out the first set, 25-17
SECOND SET
UCF wasted no time jumping ahead in the second set, going up 10-3 before Tulsa called a timeout to slow the pace. Despite the stoppage, the Knights persisted, going up 16-9 before another Tulsa timeout once again halted the tempo. The Black and Gold continued to tack on points as they won the second set, 25-13.
THIRD SET
Tulsa began to settle into the match in the third set, keeping it close to begin. UCF pulled away in the middle part of the set and at one point, they led 19-5, but Tulsa would not go down without a fight as they came back to within a point, trailing UCF 24-23. A kill by reigning Offensive Player of the Week McKenna Melville sealed the deal for the Knights, giving them the 25-23 set win and securing the sweep.
DAGENAIS DIALOGUE
[On the improved defense as of late]
"I think we are doing a good job. It starts with the players studying film, studying tendencies, I think we are doing a good job at getting in front of their approach, and then watching their arm, trying to take away the power of direction that they're going toward, and either allowing them to hit it into our block, or forcing them into a secondary shot. So, I really think both right side blockers are doing a nice job of lining up, and then the middle blockers are coming in to help and often getting the block as a result."
[On where the team stands]
"We are only half-way through the season, tied for first in our division. I think we're not looking at the scoreboard, we're not looking at standings, and I think that's a really important thing, and for any team you know, but especially for our team I think it's important to not look at scoreboards, not to look at standings, to go out there and try to be the best UCF team we can be. We are not that yet. We are getting closer every week, but we are still chasing us. Not any other team in this conference. We are chasing us, the best we can be."
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UP NEXT
The Knights return home to kick off a stretch of five of six home games as they will take on Houston and Tulane next weekend in The Venue.
