ORLANDO - UCF volleyball is set for a split weekend as Big 12 play rolls on, with the Knights first venturing to Houston for a Friday night tilt at 7:30 p.m., before returning home to host West Virginia Sunday at 1 p.m.
Setting the Stage
Looking for its first win in conference play, the Knights will venture to Houston on Friday before returning home Sunday for a contest against West Virginia. Last season, the Black and Gold went 4-0 against the Cougars and Mountaineers, which included a five-set thriller at Houston that saw the Knights prevail down the stretch thanks to Avah Armour’s career-high 35.5 points on 28 kills. Houston and West Virginia have combined for a 5-6 record in Big 12 play, with the Cougars tallying wins against Kansas State, Cincinnati and West Virginia.
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.
Hitting Percentage
The Knights rank second in the Big 12 and seventh in the nation in hitting percentage, boasting a .288 clip through 12 matches. The mark is in large part due to the efforts of UCF’s middles, Ella Chapman and Sasha Cohen. Chapman ranks third in the conference with a .415 hitting percentage, while Cohen follows in fifth with a .389 clip of her own. The Knights are the only team in the nation to have multiple players hitting .385 or above. The Knights have hit .280 or higher in nine matches this season.
Freshmen Sensation
Freshman Natasha Casey has made her mark through her first 16 collegiate matches, and stands as the NCAA leader in aces per set (0.83). The Orlando native has downed two or more aces in eight matches and three or more in seven contests. Against Kansas, Casey tallied six aces in four sets, while her career high of seven against Virginia came in just three sets. Casey is the only freshman in the top-15, and the national leader is looking to follow in Skyalr English’s footsteps, who led the NCAA in 2025 with 0.71 aces per set.
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.