Ready for Liftoff
The Knights will return to Orlando for their last two-match homestand of the season, welcoming Houston and No. 24 Iowa State for their second meetings with each of the teams. Against the Cougars in Houston, the Black and Gold battled back after falling down two sets to one for their first five-set win of the season. The Knights boast a 7-5 record in home matches this season, tallying 13.69 kills per set and 17.55 points per set. On Thursday, the ‘Nauts will host their third Space match of the season as the University hosts its first “Space Week.” On Saturday against the Cyclones, the Knights will honor four seniors prior to the match (Magan Holland, Skylar English, Sophia Kotsovolos and Reaghan Thompson).
Ranked Dub in Utah
Last week in Provo, the Knights toppled No. 17 BYU in four sets, dominating the Cougars throughout. The win marked the first ranked victory for the Knights since 2022 and the first as a member of the Big 12. The performance was the seventh ranked win in program history and the fourth-highest all-time. UCF’s last ranked win came against No. 22 Houston on Nov. 22, 2022, to clinch a share of The American regular-season title. Battling on the road, the Knights also handed BYU just its 16th home loss in the last 11 years.
Armour Up
Announced Tuesday Afternoon, Avah Armour secured UCF’s first Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor in program history after a career week which saw Armour tally a combined 55 kills and 63 points across a pair of matches. The junior led the Knights to a comeback win at Houston behind her career-high 35.5 points on 28 kills and four service aces before another stellar 27-kill outing against Texas Tech on Saturday. The performances marked just the second and third times in her career she’s secured 25 or more kills in a match and the first occasion doing it back-to-back. In Big 12 matches this season, Armour ranks third in total kills (208) and kills per set (4.95). In front of her family, Armour secured a career-high 30 kills against the Buffaloes in Boulder on Oct. 2, 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. Armour has secured 10 or more kills in a match more times than she hasn’t since making her collegiate debut in 2023, with 46 10-plus-kill outings in 70 career matches. Armour was tabbed to the Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team (one of 18 athletes), voted upon by the league’s head coaches.
Freshman Sensations
All five of UCF’s true-freshmen have made an impact on the floor, with all five having recorded substantial playing time. The group is highlighted by freshman libero Alexa Haley’s team-leading 222 digs and Mikayla Porter’s 132 assists and 18 service aces (marks that each rank second and third on the team). Haley and Sarah Mendoza have played in each of the Knights’ 22 contests. Last week, Nygeria Hart secured a career-high five kills against Texas Tech, the second-most by a Knight in the defeat.
Drama in the Space City
Down multiple match points and an entire set in Houston, the Knights battled back to claim their first five-set victory of the season and third in Big 12 play since joining the conference in 2023. Avah Armour led the charge with a career-high 35.5 points and 17 digs, with her 28 kills serving as the second most by the junior this season. A driving force for the Black and Gold came from the service line, with the squad landing a season-high 14 aces against the Cougars. Abby Schomers was supplying the opportunities, tallying a season-high 52 aces.
