UCF vs. Tulsa |
ORLANDO, Fla. - The UCF Volleyball team (21-7, 14-2) will host the inaugural American Athletic Conference Championship this weekend, Nov. 22-24, at The Venue in Orlando, Fla. They will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament after posting the second-best overall record in the conference.
The Knights will kick off the tournament in the quarterfinals as they play Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against Tulsa, an opponent they swept earlier this season on the road. If they advance, they will play SMU in the semifinals at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday before potentially going on to play in the championship match, which will be at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
All quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed live via the American Digital Network, while the championship match will be streamed via ESPNU.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
// SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 22 – First Round
American Digital Network
Match 1: No. 6 Tulsa vs. No. 3 UCF – 3:30 p.m. ET
Match 2: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 4 Houston – 6 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 23 – Semifinals
American Digital Network
Match 3: Winner Match 1 vs. No. 2 SMU – 1 p.m. ET
Match 4: Winner Match 2 vs. No. 1 Cincinnati – 3:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 24 – Final
ESPNU
Match 5: Winner Semifinal 1 vs. Winner Semifinal 2 – 1:30 p.m. ET
Championship Match (Sunday, November 24)
1:30 pm ET (Live – ESPNU)
Winner Semi 1 vs. Winner Semi 2
// WATCH
Both quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed live via The American Digital Network. Fans can watch for free here.
The championship match will be streamed live via ESPNU. Fans can watch the match here.
// STATS
Fans can follow along with the live stats from each match here:
First Round Match 1
First Round Match 2
Semifinal Match 1
Semifinal Match 2
Championship Match
// PARKING
On Saturday, Garage F will not be available to the public due to the Men's Basketball game. Alternative parking will be located in the E8 Lot, Baseball Lot and Garage D. Fans are permitted to park in Garage F on Friday and Sunday.
// TICKETS
Purchase All-Session tickets here: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/ucf/EN/buy/details/19AACVB
Purchase Single-Session tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/ucf-knights-volleyball-tickets/artist/1250831
// MORE
For more information regarding The American Athletic Conference Tournament, visit the official AAC Volleyball page here.
THE KNIGHTS
UCF finished with the second-best overall record in the conference after going 14-2. Their only two losses came against conference leaders Cincinnati, who represent the No.1 overall seed in the tournament.
In the latest RPI, UCF sits at 28 overall. The Black and Gold already have two wins over top-40 teams as well as three wins over top-50 teams. They maintain their lead in The American in blocks per set (2.90), a statistic they have led the league in for most of the year. They are also top-three in hitting percentage (.275), assists per set (13.29) and kills per set (14.06).
"I want the fans to come out and be loud. It is an honor to be able to host the first American Athletic Conference Tournament," said UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais, "I hope the fans come out and support the team and enjoy some really good volleyball."
ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES
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 marked Melville and Fisher's second as the duo was also named First Team after last season's historic run. Watson earned the recognition for the first time in her career after she was named Second Team All-Conference last year.
DAGENAIS DIALOGUE
[On hosting the inaugural AAC Championship]
"We are approaching this weekend in the same way that we would the regular season. We talked about it with the team. We are preparing for this match in the same way we did as the twenty-eight before it. The only thing that is going to change is that matches are governed and there is somebody not wearing a UCF shirt running the clock."
[On Facing Tulsa again]
"They are a different team than they were when we played them on the road. I think we are going to have to play really well again and expect a dog fight. When you get to the tournament, you are going to get a team's best shot. They still have a lot in the tank that they can utilize, and we will have to be prepared for it. They are very physical and very athletic."
[On the team's growth since the beginning of the season]
"I think we have grown. We have developed an identify of who we are and what we need to be… we have developed a little bit better communication… and I think we have just settled into who we are. We know what we are capable of and we know what we are not capable of. We are just going to go out and be the best 'us' that we can be."
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Continue to follow UCF Volleyball on Facebook (/UCF.Volleyball), Twitter (@UCF_Volleyball) and Instagram (@UCF.Volleyball) for the latest on the UCF volleyball team.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Download the app here.