ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF (20-7, 13-2) recorded their 14th sweep of the season Thursday night as they took down Temple (11-15, 2-13) in three sets (25-21, 25-18, 25-21) at McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia, Penn.
Despite being almost 1,000 miles away, the Knights seemed to be right at home in Philadelphia as they made quick work of the Owls, needing just three sets to take the match. The third set was the most challenging for the Knights as they didn't jump out to a two-point lead until they went up 17-15 late in the set before going on to eventually win, 25-21. With the victory, the Knights claimed their twentieth win of the season.
"I was very happy with our ability to come in here and execute," UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais said. "I thought we were comfortable and I thought we did a really solid job of going on the road late in the season and pulling out an important win."
Mary Kate Painter stepped into the Libero role for the first time in her career Thursday night, tallying seven saves to go along with three assists. From the offensive side, Anne-Marie Watson continued to be a well-rounded weapon for UCF as the right-side hitter turned in seven kills and four block assists while hitting at a .385 clip. As a unit, the Knights hit .351 for the match.
Kristina Fisher, who will be graduating at the end of the year, racked up her 1000th career kill in the match as she turned in five on the night.
The Black and Gold will travel to Mansfield, Connecticut as they take on UConn Saturday at noon. Next weekend, the Knights will return home to host the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship tournament at The Venue in Orlando, Fla. The Knights' seeding and time of play is to be decided.
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 started off the night with a strong first set as they never lost the lead throughout it. McKenna Melville, who is coming off a weekend in which she won conference Offensive Player of the Week, recorded a kill on a soft touch to put the Knights up 6-3. A Lache Harper service ace later in the set put UCF up 15-10, forcing an early Temple timeout. The Knights would continue to roll, however, as they went up 19-13, making Temple call their second timeout. Temple made a run to cut the deficit to 20-19 and Dagenais called time, but UCF would still go on to win the set by a 25-21 margin.
SECOND SET
The Knights kept their momentum as they transitioned into the second set, going up 8-4 before Temple called for the stoppage. With the Knights sitting on a comfortable, 18-13, lead later in the set, Harper rejected the Owls at the net to put UCF up 19-13 and force the second Temple timeout. When play resumed, the Knights went on to outscore the Owls, 6-5, to take the second set, 25-18.
THIRD SET
UCF got off to their slowest start of the night in the third set as they fell behind 5-2 before coming back to eventually tie it up at seven points apiece. The Knights jumped out to a two-point lead, their largest lead of the set, to go up 17-15 and then continued a strong run to extend their lead to 22-16 to force Temple to use their final timeout. The Knights finished the set off strong as Anne-Marie Watson recorded the clutch kill to put the nail in the coffin and give the Knights the 25-21 set victory.
DAGENAIS DIALOGUE
[On Kristina Fisher's 1000 career kills]
"Tina, although she is graduating after just three years, is they type of player you wish you had for four years. She is poised to go on to do some bigger and better things as a doctor and that is something that we support. So, for her to be able to get her 1000th career kill before she left is something that we are extremely proud of her for. She has been such a competitor for us in these three years that she has been here."
[On Mary-Kate Painter getting the start at Libero]
"It was an opportunity for us to give Mackenzie a break, and Mary-Kate is from Philly, so it was a chance for her to be a libero in front of all of her family and friends. I thought she did an outstanding job of being in that role tonight… something that she hasn't done her whole career but has prepared for. She dug well, passed well, and did everything that we asked her to do."
[On preparing for UConn]
"UConn is a much better team than the first time that we played them, and this is a tough road trip having to go up there, and we have to play every bit as well against them because they are improved. They came close to beating Cincinnati, they are beating teams. Their coaching staff has done a wonderful job."
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UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will travel to Mansfield, Connecticut as they take on UConn Saturday at noon. Next weekend, the Knights will return home to host the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship tournament at The Venue in Orlando, Fla. The Knights' seeding and time of play is to be decided.
