MIAMI - Looking to bounce back for the first time under head coach Matt Botsford, UCF
volleyball displayed balanced efforts to defeat hosts, FIU, Sunday afternoon at the Ocean Bank
0-Convocation Center in four sets (25-15, 25-19, 17-25, 25-16).
The Knights (5-1) concluded an overall strong weekend for the Black and Gold, dominating the service line to halt any Panthers (3-3) momentum, while UCF’s attacking corps complimented the season-high 13 aces.
"With the exception of the third set, our side-out game was much improved from last night, which always gives you a chance to win. Fallon [Stewart] was the difference off the bench in the fourth, she’s an intense competitor and did exactly what we needed of her. As for Skylar, when she finds her groove serving, it doesn’t matter who’s across the net, she’s just such a weapon for us."
Matt BotsfordHead CoachQUICK HITS
HOW IT HAPPENED
While the Panthers jumped out to a fast start, the Knights settled in courtesy multiple kills from English and Armour, eventually forcing an early FIU timeout at 9-6 Knights. A consistent force in UCF’s attack, Sasha Cohen joined the fun with a pair of kills.
In line with the squad’s sweep of Stetson on Friday, the Knights suffocated the Panthers with attacking threats across the court. English, the active NCAA career leader in aces, authored brilliant service from the line to grow the UCF lead before Cohen sealed the deal to take the first set, 25-15.
FIU didn’t go down quietly as the hosts amassed a 15-12 lead going into the media timeout in the second set. Out of the break, Abby Schomers secured her second and third aces of the day to level the contest, before English tagged along with two of her own to regain the lead for UCF at 20-18. The Knights wouldn’t look back with kills from Fallon Stewart and Armour providing the final blows to a 25-19 second-set triumph.
UCF was presented some challenges in the third, with the Panthers piecing together multiple scoring runs to pull away with the set, 25-17.
While the Panthers continued the pressure in the fourth, the Knights dug deep and responded with an overpowering end to the set, led by the aforementioned brilliance at the service line. At 16-all, UCF concluded the match with a 9-0 run, aided by three clutch kills from Stewart and, fittingly, an English ace to clinch the contest.
UP NEXT
The Knights will return home for a three-match tournament at The Venue from Sept. 12-14,
leading directly into the Big 12 opener in Orlando against Baylor on Sept. 16.
Opens in a new window 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.