The UCF volleyball team took the court this weekend for the first Black and Gold scrimmage of the preseason. With just five practices under their belts, head coach Todd Dagenais expected to see some struggles and overall rough play. However the team, which is bringing back 10 letterwinners, showed they are ahead of expectations, in large part due to their experience.  Dagenais was particularly impressed with the defensive effort in the middle as the two squads combined for 21 blocks.

One of the coaching staff's biggest goals of this preseason camp is to find the team's next starting setter. Freshman Dana Faught and redshirt sophomore Marie Reiterova are both looking to replace AVCA All-American honorable mention Rachel Vukson who set the single-season school record for assists with 1,377. Both setters played two sets with each team so they could get valuable experience playing with every player on the roster. Faught finished the scrimmage with 49 assists, eight digs and one solo block. Reiterova tallied 44 assists, three digs and three solo blocks.

Former University of Florida All-American and current assistant head coach Michelle Chatman also took part in the team scrimmage as a member of the gold team. She finished the scrimmage with nine kills showing the young players that affectionately referred to her as "grandma" that she can still go.

"30 years old and she's still one of the best players in the gym," Dagenais said.

After four fast paced and energetic sets, Dagenais allowed the team to have some fun in the fifth and final game. The seniors were allowed to sit out and the younger players were put into random spots and were allowed to do things on the court they are not normally asked to do. Dagenais called it a reward for all the hard work the team put it during the week.