ORLANDO – Following the Big 12 Conference Schedule release in May, first-year UCF volleyball head coach Jenny Maurer announced the program’s 2023 non-conference schedule on Friday. Headlined by four matches against 2022 postseason team, the non-conference slate includes six home and five away matches.
“In the past several years we scheduled a demanding preseason to boost our RPI as a team outside the autonomy five,” said Coach Maurer. “This year, we’re going to play many high RPI-building matches in the Big 12 Conference. Therefore, we’ve adjusted our non-conference scheduling philosophy. This will allow us to play a variety of combinations on the floor while also providing us the critical opportunity to watch our young players acclimate to the collegiate game.”
The Big 12 Conference unveiled the league’s 2023 slate in May, as the Knights' 18-match conference ledger includes seven teams that participated in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, including national champion Texas. Four teams on the docket were also among the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Rankings.
The Knights open the season in Albany, New York at the UAlbany Volleyball Classic. The season will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 24 against Navy. The Black and Gold continue play in the event against Syracuse the following day and wrap up the New York trip against host UAlbany on Saturday, Aug. 26.
UCF opens its home schedule with a six-match homestand featuring a pair of tournaments at The Venue. The UCF Challenge held Thursday, Aug. 31- Sunday, Sept. 3 will feature FIU, Mississippi State, Wake Forest and Alabama State. The UCF Invitational will take place Thursday, Sept. 7- Saturday, Sept. 9 where the Knights will match up against Florida State and North Texas.
Rounding out the non-conference schedule, the Black and Gold will head to West Lafayette, Indiana to play host Purdue on Thursday, Sept. 14 followed up by Illinois.
UCF is coming off a season in which it finished 28-2. The Knights ended the season ranked No. 22 after playing in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
For the full 2023 schedule, click here.
2023 UCF Non-Conference Schedule
8/24 (Thursday) – vs. Navy (at UAlbany)
8/25 (Friday) – vs. Syracuse (at UAlbany)
8/26 (Saturday) – at UAlbany
8/31 (Thursday) – FIU
9/1 (Friday) – Mississippi State
9/2 (Saturday) – Wake Forest
9/3 (Sunday) – Alabama State
9/7 (Thursday) – Florida State
9/9 (Saturday) – North Texas
9/14 (Thursday) – at Purdue
9/15 (Friday) – vs. Illinois (at Purdue)