ORLANDO - With a new season ahead and a first-year staff at the helm, UCF volleyball will have to lean on a strong group of returning Knights to help guide nine newcomers throughout the 2025 campaign.

In the modern era of college athletics, retaining key pieces after staff changes proves vital to a team's competitiveness. For head coach Matt Botsford, UCF's kills and assists leader will return to the fold, reaffirming their belief in the reimagining of the program.

Today will mark the first of three previews for the upcoming season, each highlighting a different group within the squad. Here are the six Knights who will be suiting up in Black and Gold once again:

#1 Abby Schomers | S | R-Jr. | Omaha, Nebraska | 4th Year at UCF

Schomers has served as the setter for UCF in each of its first two campaigns in the Big 12 and will be instrumental for the squad both on and off the court. With over 2,000 career assists to her name, she became the ninth Knight in program history to surpass 1,000 assists in a season (2023).

The longest tenured Knight on the roster, Schomers will play under her third staff and has maintained her belief in what the program can achieve, taking on a leadership role to transition into another era. 

Since taking over the reins as UCF's setter ahead of the 2023 season, Schomers has not missed a match, serving as a reliable figure for the squad. In 2024, she tallied nine contests with 40 or more assists and ended the season in brilliant form, assisting 226 times in the final five matches.

While her 10.3 assists per set clip from 2023 remains a career high, she had more of a presence on the defensive end last year, with 46 total blocks. With plenty of attacking options around her, Schomers will look to build upon her standing and facilitate a new wave of talent for the Knights.

#3 Sasha Cohen | MB | R-So. | Lakewood, Colorado | 3rd Year at UCF

After redshirting in 2023, Cohen produced a solid debut season with the Knights, ranking among the top five in multiple areas. She was one of six Knights to tally triple-digit kills, ranking fifth with 184. Among players with 400 or more attempts, Cohen was second on the team with a .234 hitting percentage.

The Colorado native made her presence known at the net with 71 total blocks, the second-most by a Knight in 2024. Paired with a consistent attacking ability, Cohen finished the season with the fourth-most points on the team and the second-most by a returner (233.5)

 

#4 Megan Holland | MB | R-Jr. | Nazareth, Pennsylvania | 3rd Year at UCF

Holland featured throughout spells of 2024, providing support for the Knights at the net. The South Carolina transfer didn't play for UCF in 2023, but showed signs of what's to come with four multi-kill performances with limited attempts. In just nine contests, the Pennsylvania transfer tallied 15 total blocks and 12 kills. 

#6 Mya Ball | S | So. | Angola, Indiana | 2nd Year at UCF

As a true freshman, Ball appeared in 10 matches for the Knights while shadowing Schomers. With limited playing time, she was impactful when on the floor with 102 assists. A prominent run of contests saw the Indiana native tally a combined 63 assists in three matches against Colorado, West Virginia and Kansas. 

She produced five outings with double-digit assists while totaling 27 digs. In 2025, she will be one of three setters on the roster, joining the aforementioned Schomers and freshman Mikayla Porter.

#7 Sophia Kotsovolos | L | Sr. | Tampa, Florida | 2nd Year at UCF

In her first season with the Knights in 2024, Kotsovolos played in 18 matches while recording 89 digs and seven service aces. Before returning to the Sunshine State, she was a standout player at Gardner-Webb and was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Year and secured a spot on the All-Conference First Team.

She secured three double-digit digs performances last season, including a prominent contest at Florida Atlantic, where she notched 13. In her career, Kotsovolos sits at 912 career digs and 66 service aces. She will be one of four liberos on the roster as the staff welcomes in a trio of freshmen to bolster the position.

#10 Avah Armour | OH | Jr. | Manitou Springs, Florida | 3rd Year at UCF

The junior has been a staple in the Knights' attack over her first two seasons, leading the squad in 2024 with 277 kills after an impressive freshman campaign saw her tally 226. Armour was recently named to the Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team (one of 18 athletes).

Having led UCF in kills per set (3.26), attempts (872) and points (324.5), she will be a welcome returnee for Botsford as he will look to add around the third-year Knight. An all-around talent, Armour accumulated 21 service aces and was active on the defensive end with 129 digs and a team-leading 19 solo blocks.

She collected 11 matches with 15 or more points and fired off seven consecutive double-digit kill performances to conclude the 2024 campaign.

SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF volleyball single-match and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action starting Aug. 29 as the Knights return to action. Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.