Volleyball Claims Opening Knight Tilt Against Robert Morris 3-1Volleyball Claims Opening Knight Tilt Against Robert Morris 3-1

Volleyball Claims Opening Knight Tilt Against Robert Morris 3-1

Box Score
Box Score Opens in a new window Season Stats Opens in a new window Career Stats Opens in a new window

ORLANDO - Year two of the Matt Botsford era arrived Friday night at The Venue as the Knights disposed of Robert Morris in four sets, 25-10, 25-12, 20-25, 25-21, behind an offensive onslaught from senior Avah Armour, who surpassed 30 points for the third time in her career.

Armour was complimented by a career-night at the net from Sasha Cohen, who broke her previous high of seven blocks in just the second set, eventually finishing the match with an even 10. While the experienced members of the group set the tone, freshman Natasha Casey arrived on the collegiate scene with 12 kills on 22 attempts.

There was a lot to really like about tonight, I thought those first two sets, especially on the defensive end, were outstanding. It's hard to sustain that level of performance throughout the entirety of a match, but I thought it was a real bright spot. Seeing what Natasha did in her first collegiate match was very impressive, and not a surprise based on what we've seen in the gym from her.

Matt BotsfordHead Coach

QUICK HITS

  • Armour’s 25 kills, six blocks and two aces amounted to a career-high in points in a four-set match for the senior. Last season, Armour tallied 34.5 points at Colorado and 35.5 points at Houston in a pair of five-set thrillers.
  • She also tallied her 12th career double-double (kills and digs), while nearing ever closer to 1,000 career kills, as she sits just 15 away.
  • After a career season in 2025, Cohen showed no signs of slowing down in the season opener, setting a career high with 10 blocks to go along with nine kills on just 15 attempts.
  • Casey’s 12 kills marked the most by a freshman since Armour’s first year in 2023, who tallied 15 at Houston on Nov. 4. 
  • In her second season leading the Knights’ back row, Alexa Haley tallied her second-career double-double with a career-high 14 assists and an impressive 21 digs.
  • Redshirt-senior setter Abby Schomers boasted 39 assists to push her towards a milestone of her own, now sitting 42 assists away from becoming the fifth Knight in program history to reach 3,000. 
  • UCF’s 14 team blocks match the second-most in the Botsford era, with a 15.5-block performance at Colorado a year ago serving as the most.
JR1_9386
HOW IT HAPPENED
UCF wasted no time in providing for its returning pieces, as Armour, Cohen and Stewart recorded consecutive kills to set the offensive tone. The former two also combined for three blocks to put the Knights up 16-8 early on.
 
Casey, who entered the floor within the first few points of the contest, recorded her first two kills of her collegiate career to widen the lead. After Ella Chapman and the aforementioned Casey combined on a block to put UCF up 23-10, Chapman spiked a Schomers set to give the Knights a one-set advantage, 25-10.
 
The Knights jumped out to a commanding 15-7 lead by the first media timeout in the second, imposing their presence at the net with a pair of blocks from Cohen, who went on to break her career-high with her eighth block to put UCF up 19-10.
 
A balanced effort down the stretch garnered the Knights their second set of the match, with Stewart, Casey, Armour and once again Chapman, boasting kills across the final five rallies.
 
While mustering just 22 points across the first two sets, Robert Morris found its footing in the third, jumping out to an early lead before fending off a late UCF surge to cut the hosts' lead in half.
 
The Knights’ attack, which hit just .216 in the third, gained steam once again, as Armour, Cohen and company caused havoc on the opponents half of the floor. Timely defense from Haley, Moore and Mendoza halted any chance for a Colonials comeback. Armour provided the final blow with her 25th kill of the night on Haley’s career-high 14th assist.

UP NEXT

UCF will be back in action for match two of the Black & Gold Classic, welcoming Stony Brook to The Venue for a 4 p.m. tilt.

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 2026. 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.