ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF volleyball team (19-6, 12-1) extended their winning streak to double digits Friday night after sweeping ECU (18-9, 5-8) in three sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-23) at The Venue in Orlando Fla.
In a match that last just one hour and twelve minutes, the Knights seemed to be in control all night. They took the first two sets by a combined margin of 21 points, but ECU would not give up as they tested the Knights in the final set, trading blows with them before the Knights finally came out victorious, 25-23.
"East Carolina is so scrappy," UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais said. "We were taking some great shots and they were picking them up like they were nothing. We had to go out and there that last set… and we had to get 20 kills just to win the set. Everybody got involved in the action, which is something that we knew we needed to do."
Makenzie Kuchmaner was an anchor on the back row for the Knights in the match, totaling 21 kills (seven per set). Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, McKenna Melville and Kristina Fisher continued to be a dynamic duo, tallying 18 and 14 kills, respectively.
The Black and Gold will continue their homestand Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as they take on the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Knights played Cincinnati once already this year, falling to them in three sets. Sunday will also be the last regular season home match for the UCF Volleyball senior class. They will be recognized on the court following the match.
Continue to follow UCF Volleyball on Facebook (/UCF.Volleyball), Twitter (@UCF_Volleyball) and Instagram (@UCF.Volleyball) for the latest on the UCF volleyball team.
WE TAKE DOWN THE PIRATES TO MAKE IT 1??0?? STRAIGHT ? #CHARGEON pic.twitter.com/iiYBx41fQz
— UCF Volleyball (@UCF_Volleyball) November 9, 2019
FIRST SET
Kristina Fisher started the night with a service ace to put the Knights up 1-0. UCF got off to a hot start, going up 9-4 before an ECU timeout. The Knights kept the pressure on, pulling out to a 20-9 lead before ECU was forced to already call another timeout, but it would not halt the Knights' momentum as they went on to win the first set, 25-13.
SECOND SET
The second set started off much closer, until the Knights began to pull away, going up 14-9. UCF continued to pull away as they went up 21-14 and ECU called a timeout. Amber Olson netted the service ace put UCF in set point territory, and they would go on to win the second set, 25-16.
THIRD SET
The third set was the most evenly matched throughout as the two sides consistently traded blows throughout. A clutch service ace from McKenna Melville tied the set at 22, and a Kristina Fisher kill put UCF up 24-22 to force a late ECU timeout. A final blow from Anne-Marie Watson put the exclamation point on the performance and gave the Knights the 25-23 set win, securing the sweep.
DAGENAIS DIALOGUE
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UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will continue their homestand Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as they take on the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Knights played Cincinnati once already this year, falling to them in three sets. Sunday will also be the last regular season home match for the UCF Volleyball senior class. They will be recognized on the court following the match.