The UCF Knights Volleyball team marks its 50th anniversary with a new leader at the helm as Matt Botsford takes over in The Venue.
Here is everything you need to know about the Knights ahead of their season-opener on Friday night.
Last Season
9-18 (2-15 Big 12), 14th in Big 12
The Knights ended up not making the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2015-2016. Nationally, the Knights were ranked worse than 200th in the nation
in kills, digs and assists.
While injuries did not help matters, they still backslid from eight Big 12 wins in 2023 to just two in 2024. This led to UCF’s decision to fire coach Jenny Maurer shortly after the season’s conclusion.
This Season
Picked 14th in Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll
While the Knights are under new management this season, it comes with plenty of unknowns, and so, with last season to go off of, the Knights were picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 12, only ahead of West Virginia.
Who’s in Charge?
Matt Botsford – 1st Season at UCF
After a successful career at Florida Gulf Coast, which included beating UCF in the NCAA Tournament in 2018, Matt Botsford takes the helm of the Knights this season.
Botsford said part of the reason he came to Orlando was that the bar of success was extremely high. He’s not settled in quite yet, but he is learning and has been familiar with the program, considering he’s been recruiting in its backyard for the past decade.
“I think one thing I pride myself on in programs that I’ve been associated with is the ability to find the strengths of each team each year, and adjust a system based on those strengths,” Botsford said. “There’s not going to be a single thing that defines UCF Volleyball, because it’s going to change year to year based on the people that we have in the gym, and I think having that flexibility is important.”
Check out Coach Botsford’s Fall Sports Media Day Press Conference below:
What to Watch for
New Libero
With the Chloe Scheer era coming to an end at the libero spot last season, Sophia Kotsovolos likely will get a chance to shine in her senior season with a larger role. She played in 49 sets across 18 matches last season, getting 89 digs.
Big 12 Play
The Knights regressed in conference play last season, so even if he does not win the league, an improvement over last season would bode well for the Matt Botsford era.
Players to Watch
#10 Avah Armour – Outside Hitter
Armour is the Knights’ only returning outside hitter. She led the team with 277 kills last season, while also getting 129 digs, 34 blocks and 14 aces.
She was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team.
“I think we’re gonna do a lot of big things this season, and I hope we can turn some heads and do some unexpected things,” Armour said during Fall Sports Media Day.
#1 Abby Schomers — Setter
Back for her third season as the Knights’ setter, Abby Schomers said the offensive system now is “a lot faster” than what they’ve run before.
She finished eighth in the Big 12 last season with 953 assists. She also recorded 46 blocks and 15 aces.
Who We’ll Miss
#26 Emily Wilson — Outside Hitter
Despite the Knights’ struggles last season, outside hitter Emily Wilson still earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors, putting up 237 kills, 21 aces and 155 digs.
Nowadays, Wilson is still around the Orlando area working as the head coach of 407 Volleyball Club’s 10U team.
#2 Chloe Scheer – Libero/Defensive Specialist
Scheer has provided a steady presence at libero for the past four seasons for the Knights. She ends her career with 1,568 digs, the fifth-most in program history, and 138 aces, the ninth-most in program history.
#15 Alexia Kuehl – Middle Blocker
In her lone season as a Knight, Keuhl ended up becoming a central source of offense, getting 237 kills, leading the team with a .397 hitting percentage, alongside 13 aces. On defense, she led the team with 74 blocks, 17 of them solo blocks.
Kuehl has continued to play volleyball at the professional level, signing with the agency Athletes Abroad. She made her pro debut with Valencianas de Juncos in Puerto Rico in January. Following a season there, she signed in June with French A2 League club Sens Volley 89, based in the town of Sens, about 74 miles southeast of Paris.
Who’s New That’s Good
Skylar English – Outside Hitter
English followed Matt Botsford from Florida Gulf Coast. She’s coming off getting named All-ASUN First Team after recording 392 kills, 75 aces, 277 digs, and 71 blocks.
“I grew up going to the camps with him and I learned a lot from him, went through the recruiting process with him and he, single-handedly, has played probably the biggest role in my volleyball career,” English said of Botsford. “After talking to them, when I went into the transfer portal, there was no doubt in my mind that this was where I was meant to be, and this was where I was meant to finish my volleyball career, and I’m so excited to be here with them for my last year.”
Roster Breakdown
- 3 Seniors
- 4 Juniors
- 3 Sophomores
- 5 Freshmen
- 6 Floridians (1 Central Floridian)
| No. | Name | Pos | Year | Hometown | 2024 School | 2024 Stats/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abby Schomers | Setter | R-Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | UCF | Started all 27 matches in ’24. Recorded 953 assists, 15 aces, 168 digs and 46 blocks. |
| 2 | Sarah Mendoza | Libero | Fr. | Bedford, Texas | Colleyville Heritage HS | N/A |
| 3 | Sasha Cohen | Middle Blocker | R-So. | Lakewood, Colo. | UCF | Started 24 of 27 matches played in ’24. Recorded 184 kills and 71 blocks. |
| 4 | Megan Holland | Middle Blocker | R-Jr. | Nazareth, Penn. | UCF | Started 5 of 9 matches played in ’24. Recorded 12 kills and 15 blocks. |
| 5 | Fallon Stewart | Outside Hitter | So. | Winter Park, Fla. | Cincinnati | Played in 29 matches in 2024. Recorded 200 kills, 72 digs and 26 blocks. |
| 6 | Mya Ball | Setter | So. | Angola, Ind. | UCF | Started 1 of 10 matches played in ’24. Recorded 4 aces, 102 assists and 27 digs. |
| 7 | Sophia Kotsovolos | Libero | Sr. | Tampa, Fla. | UCF | Started 6 of 18 matches played in ’24. Recorded 7 aces and 89 digs. |
| 8 | Ella Chapman | Middle Blocker | Jr. | Greensburg, Ind. | Florida Gulf Coast | Named All-ASUN Third Team in 2024. Played in 32 matches. Recorded 167 kills and 116 blocks. |
| 9 | Alexa Haley | Libero | Fr. | Naples, Fla. | Seacrest Country Day HS | N/A |
| 10 | Avah Armour | Outside Hitter | Jr. | Manitou Springs, Colo. | UCF | Started 22 of 23 matches played in ’24. Recorded 277 kills (led team), 21 aces, 129 digs and 34 blocks. |
| 11 | Reese Moore | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Fr. | Franklin, Tenn. | Franklin HS | N/A |
| 12 | Nygeria Hart | Outside Hitter | Fr. | Port Charlotte, Fla. | Port Charlotte | N/A |
| 14 | Reaghan Thompson | Outside Hitter | Sr. | Kemah, Texas | Northwestern State | Moved from MB to OH in 2024. Started all 25 matches, recording 312 kills, 22 aces, 293 digs and 55 blocks. Named All-Southland Second Team in 2023 as MB. |
| 18 | Skylar English | Outside Hitter | Sr. | Naples, Fla. | Florida Gulf Coast | Named All-ASUN First Team in 2024. Played in 32 matches. Recorded 392 kills, 75 aces, 277 digs, and 71 blocks. |
| 20 | Mikayla Porter | Setter | Fr. | Deerfield Beach, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | N/A |
Schedule Breakdown
The non-conference slate is mostly filled with teams that finished 200th or worse in the RPI rankings last season, though a few tests are sprinkled in there, such as a matchup against Miami (FL) on a neutral site on Sept. 6 and the defending Sun Belt West Division Champs, Arkansas State, coming to Orlando on Sept. 12.
Meanwhile, five Big 12 programs the Knights have to face begin their seasons in the preseason Top 25, but none of them are programs they have to play twice.
| Date | Day | H/N/A | Time | Opponent | Conf – Preseason Rank | Coaches Poll | 2024 Record | 2024 RPI | UCF’s Results LY | Last Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29 | Fri. | H | 7 p.m. | Chattanooga | SoCon – T-5th | – | 17-15 (7-9 SoCon) | 233 | – | 7th in SoCon |
| Aug. 30 | Sat. | H | 5 p.m. | Norfolk State | MEAC – 4th | – | 13-15 (7-7 MEAC) | 304 | – | 4th in MEAC |
| Aug. 31 | Sun. | H | 1 p.m. | UC Riverside | Big West – 11th | – | 10-21 (5-13 Big West) | 278 | – | T-9th in Big West |
| Sep. 5 | Fri. | N | 1 p.m. | Stetson | ASUN – 10th | – | 5-22 (2-14 ASUN) | 314 | Won, 3-0 @ Stetson | 11th in Sun Belt |
| Sep. 6 | Sat. | N | 6 p.m. | Miami (FL) | ACC – 7th | – | 22-11 (12-8 ACC) | 32 | – | T-7th in ACC. Lost in 2nd Round to (1) Nebraska. |
| Sep. 7 | Sun. | A | 12 p.m. | Florida International | C-USA – 7th | – | 8-25 (6-12 C-USA) | 251 | – | 8th in C-USA |
| Sep. 12 | Fri. | H | 7 p.m. | Arkansas State | Sun Belt – 2nd (West) | – | 28-6 (14-2 Sun Belt) | 45 | – | Sun Belt West Division Champions. Lost in Final 8 of NIVC. |
| Sep. 13 | Sat. | H | 6 p.m. | Florda Atlantic | American – 5th | – | 18-13 (8-8 AAC) | 118 | Won, 3-2, in Tally | 6th in AAC |
| Sep. 14 | Sun. | H | 1 p.m. | Brown | Ivy League – 3rd | – | 11-14 (8-6 Ivy League) | 179 | – | T-3rd in Ivy League |
| Sep. 16 | Tues. | H | 6 p.m. | Baylor | Big 12 – 6th | 20 | 23-8 (14-4 Big 12) | 20 | Lost, 0-3 | T-3rd in Big 12. Lost in 2nd Round to (5) Dayton |
| Sep. 19 | Fri. | N | 5 p.m. | Memphis | American – 13th | – | 12-16 (6-10 AAC) | 245 | – | T-8th in AAC |
| Sep. 20 | Sat. | A | 6 p.m. | Alabama | SEC – 16th | – | 11-16 (3-13 SEC) | 156 | – | 15th in SEC |
| Sep. 24 | Wed. | H | 6 p.m. | Cincinnati | Big 12 – 15th | – | 14-15 (5-13 Big 12) | 138 | Lost, 0-3, 0-3 | 12th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 2 | Thurs. | A | 9 p.m. | Colorado | Big 12 – 10th | – | 13-17 (6-12 Big 12) | 97 | Lost, 2-3 | T-10th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 4 | Sat. | A | 2 p.m. | Iowa State | Big 12 – 9th | – | 10-18 (4-13 Big 12) | 162 | Match Canceled due to Hurricane Milton | 13th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 9 | Thurs. | H | 6 p.m. | TCU | Big 12 – 5th | 25 | 22-8 (13-5 Big 12) | 19 | Lost, 0-3 | 5th in Big 12. Lost in 2nd Round to (4) Oregon |
| Oct. 12 | Sun. | H | 1 p.m. | West Virginia | Big 12 – 15th | – | 8-21 (2-16 Big 12) | 201 | Split, 3-0, 1-3 | 15th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 17 | Fri. | H | 6 p.m. | Arizona | Big 12 – 7th | – | 24-9 (9-9 Big 12) | 33 | Lost, 1-3 | 7th in Big 12. NIVC Champions |
| Oct. 22 | Wed. | A | 8 p.m. | Houston | Big 12 – 11th | – | 12-16 (7-11 Big 12) | 121 | Lost, 1-3 | 9th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 25 | Sat. | H | 1 p.m. | Texas Tech | Big 12 – 12th | – | 14-16 (6-12 Big 12) | 122 | Lost, 0-3 | T-10th in Big 12 |
| Oct. 29 | Wed. | A | 9 p.m. | BYU | Big 12 – 1st | 19 | 19-10 (12-6 Big 12) | 24 | Lost, 1-3 | 6th in Big 12. Lost in 1st Round to Loyola Chicago |
| Oct. 31 | Fri. | A | 9 p.m. | Utah | Big 12 – 4th | 23 | 25-6 (14-4 Big 12) | 15 | Lost, 2-3 | T-3rd in Big 12. Lost in 2nd Round to (5) Marquette |
| Nov. 6 | Thurs. | H | 6 p.m. | Houston | Big 12 – 11th | – | 12-16 (7-11 Big 12) | 121 | Lost, 1-3 | 9th in Big 12 |
| Nov. 8 | Sat. | H | 1 p.m. | Iowa State | Big 12 – 9th | – | 10-18 (4-13 Big 12) | 162 | Match Canceled due to Hurricane Milton | 13th in Big 12 |
| Nov. 12 | Wed. | A | 7 p.m. | Cincinnati | Big 12 – 13th | – | 14-15 (5-13 Big 12) | 138 | Lost, 0-3, 0-3 | 12th in Big 12 |
| Nov. 14 | Fri. | A | 7 p.m. | West Virginia | Big 12 – 15th | – | 8-21 (2-16 Big 12) | 201 | Split, 3-0, 1-3 | 15th in Big 12 |
| Nov. 19 | Wed. | H | 6 p.m. | Arizona State | Big 12 – 3rd | 13 | 30-3 (17-1 Big 12) | 11 | Lost, 0-3 | Big 12 Champion. Lost in 2nd Round to (6) Texas A&M |
| Nov. 26 | Wed. | A | 8 p.m. | Kansas State | Big 12 – 8th | – | 10-17 (8-10 Big 12) | 109 | Split, 0-3, 3-2 | 8th in Big 12 |
| Nov. 29 | Sat. | A | 2 p.m. | Kansas | Big 12 – 2nd | 14 | 25-5 (15-3 Big 12) | 14 | Lost, 0-3, 0-3 | 2nd in Big 12. Lost in 2nd Round to (6) Florida. |
The Last Time…
UCF missed the postseason three consecutive seasons: 2011-2013. Thanks to making the NIVC in 2017, the Knights staved off a three-season playoff after missing the postseason in 2015 and 2016.
