Volleyball: UTEP is first C-USA test

The Knights volleyball team (8-2) will get a taste of Conference USA when the UTEP Miners (9-3) visit on Friday night.

"A lot of our momentum started two weeks ago at the Florida Gulf Coast, where we pulled off the greatest upset in the history of our program [against USC]," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "That carried into this past weekend, where we basically took care of business against Florida Atlantic and UNC Greensboro, and had a big challenge against Pitt, beating them 3-0."

Dagenais also said that was a big win in terms of RPI and boosting C-USA status against a Big East team.

The Knights fell to rival USF this past weekend and placed second in the Residence Inn/UCF Invitational.

"That was a tough loss for us, but let us go back and refocus those little things that cost us points," Dagenais said. "I think it really sets us up well, going into this weekend."

Senior Rachel Vukson, who received two national player awards last week, earned another C-USA Setter of the Week award on Monday.

This is her fourth time winning the award, but third as a Knight; Vukson transferred to UCF from Tulsa in time for her junior season.

Dagenais said in a release that he was very excited for Vukson to receive the honor two weeks in a row. He also said that their team continues to head in the right direction when they put themselves in a position to win awards like the one Vukson received.

Vukson, Dagenais and the rest of the women's volleyball team hopes to extend UTEP's losing streak to three matches when the Miners and the Knights hit the Venue at 7 p.m. on Friday.