UCF Volleyball 50th Anniversary Special: 1978 with Hall of Famer Karin Fischer

While the UCF volleyball program has reached multiple heights throughout its 50-year history, the first and most impactful came during just the fourth season of its existence.

In 1978, the Knights solidified themselves as the premier school in the state after securing an incredible 55-0 record and an eventual national title.

Completing a perfect season is a rare feat, with only a handful of winners in history managing it. The black and gold were driven by a singular vision, leaving an unmistakable mark on the program. Across 55 matches, UCF dropped just seven of 117 sets en route to claiming the AIAW championships.

The historic campaign lives on in Orlando, with a banner honoring the team living in the rafters at The Venue. Its impact was also acknowledged as the team was inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame, class of 2015.

One player who played an impactful role was Karin Fischer, as she was one of four Knights that year to earn a Division II All-American nod. She was able to balance a championship mindset while earning her bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. 

Fischer played through high school, being recruited to play for the Black and Gold by head coach Lucy McDaniel.

One of her main reasons to play for the Knights was Jimmy McHugh. He taught a portion of the team's skill set and was part of building the freshly formed group. While Florida universities were not as developed compared to other schools across the country, especially on the west coast, McHugh and McDaniel were able to put UCF’s name on the map. 

Before the sprawling campus took its current form and the athletics village towered over the roads, the school was originally Florida Technical University with around 15,000 students.

Fischer dedicates part of the squad's success to Julie "Ju-Ju" Gonzalez, an assistant coach at the time, who was a friend to all and had tragically passed that year. “She played for the team early on, and I think the group really came together for her. It was a very spiritual thing that we went through, which added to everything.”

The roster held many notable players, including Laura Smith, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. During her tenure as a teammate, she achieved multiple milestones, including winning 165 out of 176 matches and becoming a two-time All-American for the Knights. After returning to her alma mater to coach from 1991 to 1997, she was able to bring home five more conference titles.

The 50th anniversary of Women’s Volleyball honors each team, coach and individual who persevered through every win and loss. There have been 14 conference titles since then, and the legacy continues to burn bright. UCF legends like Karen Fischer and Laura Smith laid the first bricks that generations of Knights continue to play on.