How it Happened
UCF started the first set keeping a short lead over Houston until the Cougars briefly caught up to tie the set 7-7. The Nauts went on a six-point run to strengthen their lead to 13-7, where Chapman met the Cougars at the net with three blocks, and Casey downing back-to-back aces.
The Nauts went 12-7 the rest of the set, with two kills each from Armour and Horne, an ace by Alexa Haley and a backrow kill from Fallon Stewart to secure the set at 25-15. As a program, UCF hit .500 in the opening set, driving down 13 kills, holding the lead from the jump.
Set two began differently than the first, with the lead going back and forth well into the set, and neither team staying ahead for more than three points. Four kills each from Armour and Horne locked the attack, followed by three each from Schomers and Casey to bring the Nauts to the set point with the Cougars close behind. Casey secured the set win with an ace, 25-23.
The third set opened similarly to the second, with no lead exceeding three points. The Nauts led strong rallies against the Cougars, reaping a five-point run to gain a solid lead of 18-13. Within the final bout, UCF only let in five points from Houston before Armour secured the set point and Stewart won the match with another backrow attack, 25-18.
The match was a staunch difference from the first time the two played at the beginning of conference play, a contest that went out to five sets, with no program able to establish much momentum as the match went on. There were just eight lead changes in Sunday’s contest and UCF only committed 23 unforced errors combined.
Up Next
UCF hits the road for the final time this week, taking on Cincinnati Friday and West Virginia Sunday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
