ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The American Athletic Conference unveiled the 2019 All-Conference regular season awards on Wednesday, with the Knights earning recognition in the form of three All-Conference First Team athletes.
Outside Hitters McKenna Melville and Kristina Fisher as well as Right-Side Hitter Anne-Marie Watson each received the honor of being named First Team All-Conference for their efforts throughout the 2019 season. The award marks Melville and Fisher's second as the duo was also named First Team after last season's historic run. Watson earns the recognition for the first time in her career after she was named Second Team All-Conference last year.
"I think this is a team that has been successful. I think it's a team that has managed the game well and it's a team that has been unselfish," said UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais. "They have gone out and done their job, and while doing their job, others may shine, but we are also shining as a group. Having three first-teamers is a product of having a team that's really unselfish, and it's a product of having two wonderful associate head coaches doing a fantastic job of training the team to go out and perform on a nightly basis."
After posting a freshman season for the record books in 2018, McKenna Melville followed it up with yet another historic season for the Knights as she led the team in kills per set, points, total attacks and sets played. She was also tied with Fisher for most service aces and was second on the team in digs per set. For most of the season, Melville was second in the conference in kills per set, trailing only Cincinnati's Jordan Thompson. Outside of the conference, Melville finished the regular season at twentieth in the nation in kills per set. The Eagan, Minn. native was also tabbed American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice throughout the campaign for her stellar performances. All around, the sophomore has developed into an all-around threat for the Knights with 18 double-doubles this season. She averaged 4.51 kills, 2.93 digs and .45 blocks per set this year.
"McKenna is number two in terms of attack this year in this conference and she's only behind the greatest player to ever play in the conference [in Jordan Thompson]. You could argue that if you take away Jordan Thompson, McKenna is the best player in this conference. As a unanimous selection, I think that's a no-brainer. You look at what she does in all phases of the game for us and she deserves to be there," said Dagenais.
Following a big jump from her freshman to sophomore year that netted her first All-Conference nod, Kristina Fisher has once again made strides in her third year with the Knights to reclaim the award. The Austin, Texas native ranks second on the team with 2.90 kills and third with 2.79 digs per set. Fisher has nine double-doubles on the season for the Knights, the most in her career in one season. Her best performance of the year came in a 3-2 Knights victory over Iowa State as she hit .488 to post 24 kills as well as 14 digs. Fisher was a consistent attacker throughout the year for the Black and Gold, hitting above .200 in 19 matches. On Nov. 14 this season, Fisher racked up her 1,000th career kill in the Knights' 3-0 win over Temple.
"I'm glad that the teams realize that Kristina had an exceptional year. She was excellent attacking and much better on defense this year. She became more of an all-around player and more of a smart player and added tools to her game and really allowed us to have a balanced attack because either her or McKenna were in the front row," said Dagenais.
Anne-Marie Watson was a force on the right side for the Knights all season long. The junior right-side hitter from Oviedo, Fla. not only proved to be an offensive weapon for UCF, posting the third highest kills per set on the team with 2.68, but she was also one of the best blockers the Knights had to offer, leading the team with 130 total blocks, including seven solo rejections. Watson posted a season-high 20 kills and six blocks in the Knights' 3-2 win over Ole Miss, hitting at a .380 clip to get there. Watson also tied the UCF record for blocks in a single match as she posted 12 against Miami early in the Knights' season.
"I'm so excited that Anne-Marie went from Second Team last year to First Team this year. She has shown herself to be an elite blocker on the right side and she is one of the top right-side blockers in the nation, and finally she's scoring enough points offensively that people took notice," said Dagenais. "I'm glad that the coaches recognized what kind of a weapon that she has been for us, in being able to spread the ball from antenna to antenna. So, I'm really excited to see her get bumped up to first team."
This weekend, the Knights will return home to host the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship tournament at The Venue in Orlando, Fla. The Knights finished the regular season 21-7 overall and 14-2 in the conference. They will be the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament and will play in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. against Tulsa. For more information on the tournament, including tickets, click here.
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UP NEXT
This weekend, the Knights will return home to host the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship tournament at The Venue in Orlando, Fla. The Knights will be the No. 3 seed and will play in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. against Tulsa. For more information on the tournament, including tickets, click here.