Volleyball Welcomes West Virginia for Sunday Afternoon TiltVolleyball Welcomes West Virginia for Sunday Afternoon Tilt

Volleyball Welcomes West Virginia for Sunday Afternoon Tilt

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO - With the Big 12 season well underway, UCF volleyball will strive to jump back in the win column Sunday Afternoon when it welcomes West Virginia to The Venue for a 1 p.m. first serve. 

Having faced a grueling opening stretch against multiple top-20 RPI teams, the Knights have a pair of home contests to swing momentum back in their corner before heading on the road once again. The Black and Gold boast a 2-1 record over the Mountaineers over the past two seasons as conference mates.

About West Virginia (13-3, 1-3)

After a perfect 12-0 in their non-conference competition, the Mountaineers have stumbled out of the gates in Big 12 play, dropping a pair of contests with Cincinnati and a five-setter against Kansas State. Spirits remain high as West Virginia has shown its ability to hang in matches, with an upset over then-No. 19 BYU evidence of how dangerous it can be.

With an efficient attacking group that currently holds the conference's third-best hitting percentage (0.275), complemented by a strong defensive unit that sits fifth in the Big 12 in blocks per set (2.56).

Armour Up
After another stellar season in 2024, which saw her lead the Knights in kills (277) and points (324.5), Armour was tabbed to the Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team (one of 18 athletes), voted upon by the league’s head coaches... through 15 matches, the Colorado native has backed up the expectations with team-leading efforts on offense.... In front of her family, Armour secured a career-high 30 kills against the Buffaloes in Boulder, the most by a Knight since McKenna Melville did so against Georgia on Sept. 11, 2021, while becoming just the 18th in program history to record 30 or more kills in a single match... The junior tallied a combined 43 kills across the two matches at Colorado and Iowa State, the most in a two-match stretch in her career... Armour has secured 10 or more kills in a match more times than she hasn’t since making her collegiate debut in 2023, with 42 10-plus-kill outings in 66 career matches... Armour ranks ninth in the Big 12 with 4.06 kills per set, while ranking eighth in points per set with 4.56 to her name, each lead the Knights and rank among the top-100 in the nation. 

Reaghan Makes History
For the first time in program history, a Knight has secured a Big 12 weekly honor... Announced by the league office on Sept. 23, Reaghan Thompson secured Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after a brilliant weekend at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa... The Texas native tallied a season-high 12 blocks against Memphis, the most by a Knight since Nerissa Moravec’s 14 blocks at Houston on Nov. 26, 2021... Moreover, the total propelled Thompson past 400 career blocks, becoming one of 11 active DI players with 400-plus to their name... Her total of 12 against the Tigers propelled the Knights to 14 team blocks during the win, the most in a single-match since another 14-block performance at Houston on Nov. 4, 2023... While her defensive efforts secured her the weekly defensive honor, her attacking ability is what makes her one of one... Thompson is the only active DI player with 800-plus kills (873) and 400-plus blocks (429) in her career.

English 101
English is the nation’s most prolific server, leading the NCAA with 38 service aces through 13 matches, also leading in aces per set (0.87)... the position is fitting to English as she’ll also the active DI leader in career aces (213), having suprassed the 200-mark with a career-high nine aces against Memphis, matching the UCF program record set by Lorin Lukas on Sept. 16, 2006, against Troy... English’s offensive prowess doesn’t end at the service line, as her 3.30 kills per set rank second on the team and 13th in the Big 12, while 4.34 points per set rank ninth in the conference and second on UCF... Her nine aces against Memphis were the second-most by a player in the NCAA this season in a four-set match, trailing only Alabama’s Hannah Parant, who totaled 10 of her own against the Tigers the day prior.
 
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 473 assists through 15 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 6th in the Big 12 in assists per set (9.27) and seventh in total assists (473)... Schomers also continued her climb up the record books, jumping one spot to fifth with her current career total of 2,499.

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.