UCF Knights Volleyball Ready to Open Season Against Florida Atlantic Monday at 4
By UCF Knights // January 23, 2021
Knights are once again selected to repeat as AAC champions
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The UCF volleyball team is set to make its season debut on Monday when the Knights square off against FAU for an exhibition at 4:00 p.m.
The next day, Tuesday, Jan. 26, UCF will officially start the season with a 4:00 p.m. regular-season match against the Owls.
THE KNIGHTS
The 2019 UCF volleyball squad was one of the best in program history, posting a 25-8, 14-2 record throughout the season.
Notable regular-season victories for the Knights in 2019 included wins over then-No. 14 Illinois, Iowa State, Ole Miss, Kansas, South Carolina, and sweeping South Florida to win the War on I-4.
Between 2018 and 2019, UCF has led the American Athletic Conference with a combined 32-2 record in league play.
After going undefeated in 2018 conference action to claim the title, the Knights were tabbed to host the inaugural AAC Championship Tournament in November 2019. UCF did not disappoint in front of its home crowd, taking down AAC regular-season champions Cincinnati to win their second straight league title.
With the victory, UCF secured the automatic bid representing The American in the NCAA Tournament, marking the Knights’ tenth appearance all-time in the tournament.
In 2020-21, the Knights are once again selected to repeat as AAC champions.
UCF received 10 out of 11 first-place votes to claim the top spot in the poll over Cincinnati. The Bearcats were second in the poll with one first place vote (coming from UCF, who could not vote for themselves).
In addition to the 10 first place votes predicting UCF to win the conference, UCF was also picked to win The American’s East Division. The Knights garnered 46 points to claim first place in that regard.
Rounding out the rest of the East Division poll, Cincinnati was predicted to finish second with 37 total points, Temple was third with 26 points, and ECU and South Florida were tied for fourth place with 16 points each.
THE OWLS
The Knights made quick work of FAU in 2019 with a 3-0 sweep over the Owls on Sept. 21, 2019. UCF was ahead for most of the match, jumping ahead early in all three sets and not relinquishing the lead to take each set by seven or more points.
The Knights had 17 ½ blocks in just three sets in their last win over the Owls. McKenna Melville tallied eight kills and seven digs while Anne-Marie Watson also looked strong, hitting .500 for nine kills and four blocks. Kathryn Wesolich also chimed in with six block assists and two kills.
The Knights are 33-9 all-time against the Owls headed into Monday’s contest, with UCF’s last loss coming in 2013 in a 3-2 loss at FAU.
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