UCF to Play Pepperdine in the First Round of the NCAA TournamentUCF to Play Pepperdine in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

UCF to Play Pepperdine in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

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ORLANDO, Fla. – The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball committee announced the 64-team field that will compete in the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, and the Knights (26-6, 19-1) will be playing Pepperdine (22-5, 14-4) in the first round of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 3, in Los Angeles, California.
 
If the Knights take down the Waves in the first round, they will move on to play the winner of No. 13 UCLA and Fairfield on Saturday, Dec. 4. To view the full, 64-team bracket, click here.

"I am very proud of the team and proud we get to represent UCF," head coach Todd Dagenais said, "It was nice to have the selection show with our fans. I am glad that the committee respected our RPI and Florida Gulf Coast's and Florida State's and decided to spread us out.

"Looking at the draw itself, Pepperdine is a tough team. They play against the Pac-12 all the time and play in a tough league. On paper, it is a toss up. But we are going to prepare, travel like we always have, and do our best. Fairfield really had a tremendous year this year winning its conference and pulling off upsets. And you don't win the Pac-12 unless you're really good so congrats to UCLA for doing that. I am excited and looking forward to a regional where a lot of things could happen."

UCF moved up to No. 22 in the RPI while Pepperdine came in at No. 37.

This marks UCF's 12th trip the NCAA Tournament, fourth in a row and fifth under head coach Todd Dagenais. The last time UCF went to four-straight tournaments was from 1994-97.

The Knights have had three second round appearances in 1997, 2003, and most recently in 2019. 

"This is a business trip and we are well beyond just being happy to be in the tournament," Dagenais added. "We want to make noise in the tournament. That is the school we have become over the last several years and grown in to. I am really proud that is who we are.

"We are experienced, this is a team that has been to the tournament practically their entire career here, so the goal is to go and win. We are ready to go."

Tickets for Friday's first round match are now on sale. You can purchase your tickets at this link.

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