Enjoy the Schow
Embarking on her fourth season with UCF as the longest-tenured Knight on the roster, Abby Schomers has been brilliant through the opening stretch, totaling 199 assists through six matches. She tallied an even 100 assists during the opening weekend, including 42 against Chattanooga. The Nebraska native averaged 10 per set en route to being named Black & Gold Classic Most Valuable Player. In Miami, a 50-assist performance at FIU marked the second most in a four-set match in her career. The Nebraska native ranks 22nd in the nation in assists per set (10.47) and 64th in total assists (199). Schomers also continued her climb up the record books, jumping one spot to seventh with her current career total of 2,225.
English 101
Through her first six matches in Black and Gold, Skylar English has been instrumental in the Knights’ hot start. The FGCU transfer leads the Big 12 in both total aces (16) and aces per set (1.00, also a national lead), while ranking sixth in points per set (4.69) and 13th in kills per set (3.56). English offered a career day against FIU to cap off the 305 Challenge, tallying a career-high eight aces and the match-winner, the most aces in a match by a Knight since Tali Marmen secured eight of her own against East Carolina on March 5, 2021. English has led the Knights in kills/points in three of six contests, shifting her career tally in kills ever so close to the 1,000 milestone. She is the active DI career leader in aces (188) and third in aces per set (0.50).
Attacking Prowess
The Knights rank among the top-25 in three key offensive categories after two weeks of play... Their aforementioned dominance at the service line placed them 18th in the NCAA in aces per set and second in the Big 12 (2.15). However, the most impressive aspect of UCF’s game thus far has been its efficiency, ranking 10th in the nation and third in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.314), while also sitting 14th in the NCAA in kills per set (14.50). The Knights are one of six teams to rank among the top-15 in the NCAA in both kills per set and hitting percentage. Sasha Cohen ranked 22nd in the nation with a strong .461 hitting percentage (eighth among players with 50+ kills).
Botsford Era Begins
After a historic 11 seasons at FGCU, Matt Botsford embarks on his first season leading UCF volleyball... Among the winningest active coaches in the nation, Botsford led the Eagles to a combined 11 Atlantic Sun titles and five NCAA tournament appearances, all while becoming the most successful head coach in FGCU history... .772 (268-79) ranks ninth among active head coaches in career winning percentage. In the four seasons before his arrival, Botsford and the Eagles claimed a combined seven conference titles and advanced to the NCAA second round in 2021. Botsford became the second head coach to win his first four matches in program history after defeating Stetson (Jenny Maurer, 2023).
