ORLANDO - The UCF volleyball team is set to open its fourth season in the Big 12, and second under Botsford, Thursday night at The Venue against the undefeated Kansas State wildcats, before vebturing to Ames for a meeting with Iowa State on Sunday.
Setting the Stage
The Knights are set to open up Big 12 play with one of the hottest teams in the nation, the still-undefeated Kansas State Wildcats. Last season, the Black and Gold prevailed in an epic five-set thriller in Manhatten. After the matchup on Thursday, the Knights will return to Ames, Iowa, for the second consecutive season. In 2025, UCF avenged a four-set loss with a commanding 3-0 sweep over the then-24th ranked Cyclones, marking the seventh ranked win in program history and the second of the season, making Matt Botsford the first first-year head coach to secure two top-25 wins.
Non-Conference Recap
The Knights concluded their non-conference play with an 8-2 record, which included six sweeps and an overall set clip of 26-8. For the first time since 2022, the Black and Gold fired off four-consecutive sweeps, defeating Davidson, Stetson, Virginia and UAlbany in commanding fashion. Against Power Four opponents, UCF went 2-2, which was highlighted by a pair of sweeps over NC State and Virginia and a 2-1 mark against ACC opponents.
Big 12’s Best
The Knights rank first in the Big 12 after non-conference play in hitting percentage (.334) and third nationally. That clip is in large part due to the efforts of Sasha Cohen (1st in the Big 12: .434), Ella Chapman (2nd in the Big 12: .421) and Natasha Casey (7th in the Big 12: .378). Casey leads the conference in aces per set (0.88), also ranking second nationally. As a team, UCF ranks among the top three in assists per set (3rd, 13.09), kills per set (14.24) and opponent hitting percentage (3rd, .164).
Dynamic Duo
After coming on their official recruiting visit together back on September 25, 2021, and starting their first collegiate match together on August 25, 2023, Avah Armour and Abby Schomers each reached historic milestones together on August 30, 2026, against NC State. Schomers became the fifth Knight in program history to surpass 3,000 career assists, while Armour became the 15th Knight in program history to surpass 1,000. Armour ranks 10th in the Big 12 with 3.94 kills per set, while Schomers is second in assists per set (10.36).
Sweepin’ and Sweepin’
UCF took care of business in emphatic fashion in a pair of home non-conference tilts last week, sweeping Stetson and Virginia. Against the Hatters, the Knights held them to a negative hitting percentage (-0.111) and just 16 kills. It marked the first time since 2014 the Knights held an opponent to a sub-zero mark and the second-consecutive season holding Stetson to 16 or less kills (tallied just 15 in 2025).
Wake Forest Report
After taking care of business against Georgetown in four sets during the weekend opener, the Knights dropped their first true away match of the season in five sets to the hosts before bouncing back with a convincing sweep against Davidson on Sunday. UCF came away with the best record at the inviational, garnering Sasha Cohen MVP honors, along with a spot on the All-Tournament team for Ella Chapman, who tallied a career-high 13.5 points against the Wildcats.
Black & Gold Dominance
The Knights swept their opening weekend at home, defeating Robert Morris (3-1), Stony Brook (3-0) and NC State (3-0), outscoring them 211-146. UCF moved to 9-1 in home tournaments under Botsford and hit .363 while holding its opponents to .142. The Knights dominated the net, tallying 11 or more blocks in three-consecutive matches for the first time under Botsford.
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.