ORLANDO - The Knights dropped their first Big 12 match of the season against No. 21 Baylor Tuesday night, pushing the Bears deep in the third set before eventually falling in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-23).
A first duel with Baylor (6-2) in Orlando as conference mates saw a contested match at the nets, with each squad totaling eight blocks apiece. Down the stretch, the Bears found ways to cause some disruption for the Knights (7-3), claiming the first Big 12 match throughout the league.
I was really pleased with our recovery in terms of being able to score after a difficult first set. In sets two and three, our outsides got really creative, but in the end the ball handling wasn't where we needed it to be to run our offense.
Matt BotsfordHead CoachHOW IT HAPPENED
Baylor started the first set hot with five unanswered kills, forcing UCF to take an early timeout. The Bears proceeded to get another two before the Knights scored their first. Senior Reaghan Thompson and Sophomore Sasha Cohen were able to record a total of five blocks, but it proved too little to stop the Bears. The Black and Gold started to climb back, but a few errors led to the Bears taking the set with a 25-16 advantage.
The second set opened with an immediate Knights kill, but the Bears didn’t stay silent as they proceeded to score six straight points before a UCF timeout, nearly replicating their first set start. The timeout proved to be worthwhile this time, as the Knights were able to put four points on the board after regrouping before the Bears responded.
The Knights were determined not to be stopped as they started shaving their deficit handily. A 9-2 UCF run left Baylor with no choice but to take a timeout in an attempt to put an end to the Knights’ streak. The Bears started to pull away after multiple key blocks and aces, eventually doubling their advantage, 25-17.
The Black and Gold were not going down without a fight as they battled the Bears in the opening stages of the third set. Avah Armour and company began to find rythym, utilizing Baylor's physicality to find holes on the court. The Knights continued to display their dominance, keeping the Bears to a deficit through nearly the entire set.
An unsuccessful UCF touch challenge in the closing stages of the third set proved critical, as it gave Baylor the time to regroup after multiple UCF errors. Two successful Baylor challenges erased a much-needed kill from the Knights and led to Baylor taking the set and the match with a final advantage of 25-23.
UP NEXT
The Knights will embark to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this weekend to participate in the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama. They will face Memphis on Friday before a match on Saturday against the hosts.
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 in the program's 50th Anniversary Season. 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.
