ORLANDO - With conference play quickly approaching, the UCF volleyball team is set to welcome Stetson and Virginia to The Venue this week for its final pair of home non-conference titlts.
The Knights and Hatter will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. before the Cavaliers venture to Orlando on Saturday at 2 p.m.
SETTING THE STAGE
After the Knights’ first road trip of the season, which saw them take two of three at the Wake Forest Invitational, they will return home this week for a pair of stand alone non-conference matches, first welcoming Stetson for the program’s 74th all-time meeting on Wednesday, before a dual with Virginia on Saturday. After a pair of matchups with ACC foes across the opening two weekends, the Knights will look to secure a winning mark against the conference against the Cavaliers. In home none-conference tilts, the Knights are 9-1 under head coach Matt Botsford.
THE OPPONENTS
Stetson - The Hatters enter The Venue on Wednesday winners of their last three after dropping their opening two matches of the season. A 3-1 win over Merrimack preceded a pair of triumphs over Bethune-Cookman. Stetson have been a force at the net across its first five matches, ranking 69th in the nation in blocks per set (2.47), while also ranking 23rd in the nation and first in the A-Sun in digs per set (15.79). Their overall defensive prowess has seen the Hatter limit opponents to a .180 hitting percentage. Sofia Torcello and Kayla Balfour lead the charge at the net as each average over a block per set while ranking among the top-100 in the nation.
Virginia - After dropping its opening match of the season against American, Virginia has won three on the jump against Liberty, William & Mary and VCU, dropping just a pair of sets in the process. The Cavs rank 51st in the NCAA and seventh in the ACC with 13.53 kills per set, while also ranking 67th in the country in hitting percentage (.250). UCF assistant coach Trevor Kennan was on staff at Virginia from 2022-24 before joining Botsford’s staff in Orlando. Reese Wuebker leads the offensive charge for Virginia with 3.27 kills per set, while setters Olivia Siskin and Hannah Scott split feeding the attack with 5.20 assists per set and 5.07 assists per set, respectively.
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.
Big 12’s Best
Avah Armour garnered Offensive Player of the Week honors after a conference-leading 5.4 kills per set and 6.4 points per set after the opening weekend, while Sasha Cohen joined her on the Starting Seven with her Big 12-leading 2.3 blocks per set and .462 hitting percentage. After another trio of contests, sophomore libero Alexa Haley leads the Big 12 in digs with 4.5 per set and 99 total digs. As a team, the Knights lead the conference in hitting percentage (.337) and team kills (309).
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 third in the Big 12 with 14.05 kills per set, while Schomers is fifth in assists per set (12.82).
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.