Volleyball Sweeps No. 24 Iowa State on Senior Day

ORLANDO - In front of a vibrant crowd at The Venue, the UCF volleyball team authored its most complete performance of the season, sweeping No. 24 Iowa State (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) for its second ranked win in the last two weeks.

With seniors honored prior to the match, the occasion was never too big for the Knights, halting one of the nation’s hottest teams and attacks in their tracks. A balanced offense complemented yet another formidable display from the defense, tallying 10 blocks while siding out above a 60 percent clip in each set.

QUICK HITS

• The win over the 24th-ranked Cyclones marked the eighth top-25 win in program history and second of this season, joining UCF’s 2022 squad as the only teams to achieve the feat twice in the same year.
• With the sweep, the Knights bageled a ranked opponent for the second time in program history, mirroring a 3-0 triumph over No. 3 USC on Sept. 2, 2011.
• With back-to-back sweeps over Houston and Iowa State at The Venue, the Knights have bageled consecutive Big 12 opponents at home for the first time since joining the conference in 2023.
• Botsford becomes just the second head coach in program history to defeat two or more ranked opponents and the first to do so in his first season in charge.
• Three Knights tallied 10 or more kills for the third time this season.
• Ella Chapman secured season highs in both kills (10) and points (13.0).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Knights started strong out of the gates, answering Iowa State’s calculating attack with some great sequences to grow a 15-11 lead heading into the media timeout. Chapman led the charge with six early kills to space out the UCF offense.

While the visitors sought to climb back in the set, they were swiftly forced into a pair of timeouts as the Black and Gold grew their edge to seven points. A late surge from the Cyclones was dealt with before senior Reaghan Thompson sealed the deal with two kills to secure the opening set for the Knights, 25-20.

Through the early minutes of the second set, each team went back and forth with minimal scoring stretches. Timeouts from each preceded a 5-3 UCF run, which grew its lead to 19-14, in large part to Chapman’s fellow middle, Sasha Cohen’s attacking threat.

Iowa State battled, however, cutting the lead down to just two points to force the hosts' second of two timeouts. Out of the break, kills from Avah Armour and setter Abby Schomers doubled the Knights’ advantage with a similar 25-20 triumph.

With momentum firmly in UCF’s corner, the squad created a three-point cushion with Iowa State in the third set, as multiple Armour kills set the tone. The black and gold charged through the set, forming yet another five-point lead that propelled the squad to match point. It was the defensive heroics that secured the crucial Big 12 win, with Skylar English and Chapman sending a Cyclone attack back into their half.

UP NEXT

The Knights will embark on a two-match road trip next week with contests at Cincinnati (Wednesday) and West Virginia (Thursday)

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.