CF Patriots 3, Gulf Coast 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida earned its first home-court victory over an NJCAA opponent on Thursday, sweeping visiting Gulf Coast 25-9, 25-16, 25-17.

Reigning FCSAA player of the week Vanessa Benke had 12 kills and 13 digs to pace a balanced CF effort. Amber Wyborny added 11 digs, Eleanora Kazarian notched 8 kills and setters Jordyn Wright and Ellie Harp teed up 16 assists apiece.

The win was a fitting encore to Wednesday's match, in which CF (22-4) recorded its first-ever home-court victory with a 3-set rout of NAIA opponent Warner University. The winning streak erased any stigma from the team's early-season home-court struggles, affirming that the Patriots can protect their own turf with the same ferocity they've displayed on their dominant road trips.

"I think everybody's now relaxed and we don't feel the pressure any more," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "We played well as a team. I think that's our strength, our team chemistry."

NJCAA No. 16 CF now shifts its gaze to Mid-Florida Conference play. The Patriots host defending MFC champion FSC-Jacksonville on Tuesday at 7 pm. The Stars are likely to be in the mood for payback after upstart CF handed them a 3-set sweep in Jacksonville on Sept. 22, running the first-year program's conference record to 3-0 midway through the six-game MFC schedule.

CF Patriots 3, Warner 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida earned its long-awaited first home-court victory Wednesday night with a 3-set sweep of NAIA opponent Warner University. 

The Patriots claimed a 25-13, 25-13, 25-15 win. 

CF (21-4) hosts state rival Gulf Coast on Thursday in search of its first home winning streak. The Patriots beat the Commodores in 4 sets on a neutral court in the season's opening weekend.

Mid-Florida Conference play resumes Tuesday with a 7 pm visit from defending MFC champion FSC-Jacksonville; the Patriots are 3-0 halfway through their inaugural conference schedule.

Questions Surround CF Volleyball's Home-Court Return

The accomplishments have come in waves recently for the first-year CF Patriots volleyball program. A national ranking. A sweep of the defending conference champions. Victory number 20. A state player of the week.

But there's one glaring item left unchecked on the team's list.

A victory on its home court.

The renovated CF gym enjoyed its ceremonial grand opening Aug. 31 as the 4-0 Patriots welcomed Polk State. The night ended with CF's first mark in the loss column.

A week later, after four more victories away from Ocala, the Patriots hosted defending NJCAA Division II champion Pasco-Hernando, and suffered loss No. 2.

Patriot fans may be led to question the accuracy of the dispatches arriving from the road, apocryphal tales of a conquering national power stomping across the Southeast clad in Patriot blue and red. After all, CF fans back home have watched their team win all of 2 sets.

After three successful weeks on the road, the Patriots have the opportunity over the next two weeks to reconcile the product on display on their home court with their growing reputation nationwide.

CF hosts NAIA school Warner University at 7 pm Wednesday, a low-pressure non-NJCAA matchup that might serve to ease the team's apparent home-court stage fright. On Thursday at 7 pm, state rival Gulf Coast visits for a non-conference match that will conveniently test the theory that CF is a superior team away from home; the Patriots handled Gulf Coast in 4 sets on a neutral court in the season's opening weekend.

The following week brings CF's first home Mid-Florida Conference match, Oct. 4 versus defending MFC champ FSC-Jacksonville, and an Oct. 5 non-conference match against Brevard. Were it not for the lingering issue of its home-court struggles, the Patriots would be prohibitive favorites for the conference crown after defeating each of the other three contenders on their respective home courts. Home matches against Lake-Sumter and St. Johns River later in October complete the quick six-game MFC slate.

But CF remains in the unusual situation of being world-beaters away from home but entirely unproven in its own friendly confines.

For fans who prefer their sports with a dash of intrigue, the Patriots' upcoming four-game homestand arrives shrouded in a cloak of mystery.

Vanessa Benke Named State Player of the Week

Patriots freshman Vanessa Benke has been named the FCSAA Player of the Week, the first-ever such honor for a CF volleyball student-athlete. 

From the press release: 

Benke contributed for the offense with 81 kills (4.05/game), 7 assists and 5.25 passes per game.  Defensively, she averaged 3.6 digs per game and added 15 blocks.  She has played in every match for the Lady Patriots and is a very consistent player with amazing ball control.  Benke has been named to the All Tournament Team at the Palm Beach State College, Florida College @ Jacksonville and Pasco-Hernando Community College tournaments.

Polk State 3, CF Patriots 2 (Volleyball)

Central Florida absorbed a rare volleyball loss Saturday night with a tough 5-set loss to Polk State at an invitational tournament at SCF-Manatee. Polk won 25-9, 16-25, 24-26, 25-17, 11-15.

Christine Pinder had 24 kills and 27 digs and Vanessa Benke added 19 kills and 26 digs to lead the CF attack.

With a three-week road swing finally concluded, the Patriots (20-4) return home for a pair of matches this week. They host Warner University on Wednesday and Gulf Coast on Thursday; both matches start at 7 p.m. in the renovated CF gymnasium.

CF Patriots 3, Polk State 1; CF 3, Iowa Western 1 (Volleyball)

The Central Florida volleyball team continued to roll through its inaugural season Friday, first earning a measure of revenge against a regional rival and later knocking off an opponent ranked in the NJCAA's top 10.

Competing in an invitational tournament at SCF-Manatee, CF opened the day by beating Polk, the team that spoiled the Patriots' first home match in August, 25-16, 25-22, 25-27, 25-13. The NJCAA No. 20 Patriots dropped the opening set to NJCAA No. 8 Iowa Western before recovering for a convincing 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20 victory.

Vanessa Benke recorded 35 kills and 35 digs on the day, while Christine Pinder had 40 kills and 25 digs. Ella Kazarian added 20 kills and Amber Wyborny 22 digs. Freshman setter Jordyn Wright guided the CF offense with a remarkable 94-assist effort.

The successful match against Western gave CF (20-3) the 20th win of the program's brief history, another milestone achievement in an historic week for the fledgling program. The Patriots on Wednesday earned their first national ranking, and on Thursday they completed a three-match road sweep of each of their Mid-Florida Conference rivals.

CF completes its visit to SCF-Manatee on Saturday before finally returning home. The Patriots host Warner University at 7 pm Wednesday in their first home match since Sept. 6 and just the third home-court appearance of their debut season.

CF Patriots 3, FSC-Jacksonville 0 (Volleyball)

Sophomore captain Christine Pinder
led the Patriots in kills and digs
Thursday night.

Three games into its inaugural Mid-Florida Conference season, the CF Patriots volleyball team has grown into a dominant force.

CF on Thursday took a visit to reigning MFC champion FSC-Jacksonville and swept the Stars off their home court, 25-20, 25-10, 25-16.

"Tonight proved that as a team we are truly coming together as one," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "We have had so many hurdles to jump, and hopefully we will continue to improve."

Sophomore Division I transfer Christine Pinder fulfilled her leadership role in her new team's biggest game to date, turning in a standout all-around performance with 15 kills and 15 digs. Freshman Vanessa Benke added 9 kills and 9 digs.

With the victory, the upstart Patriots (18-3, 3-0 MFC) have conquered all three of their MFC rivals on the road, earning wins at Lake-Sumter, St. Johns River and now FSC-Jacksonville. They will host each of the three teams in Ocala in October to round out the six-game MFC schedule; the teams with the top two conference records at season's end advance to the state tournament in November.

The Patriots visit SCF-Manatee this weekend for non-conference action Friday and Saturday.

The win represents the team's second defining moment in as many days. On Wednesday, CF enjoyed the first national ranking in its young history, cracking the NJCAA poll at No. 20.

Patriot Report: CF Baseball's Christian Coburn

The Sept. 21 edition of the Patriot Report on www.cfpatriots.com, hosted by Kayla Wisniewski of the College of Central Florida Student Activities Board. This week's guest is sophomore outfielder Christian Coburn, the Patriots' leading hitter as a freshman and a centerpiece of a restocked CF roster. Visit www.cfpatriots.com for more CF athletics.

Click here to watch recent editions of the Patriot Report, featuring volleyball's Christine Pinder and softball's Miranda Anderson.

CF Volleyball Earns First National Ranking

The launch of the the CF Patriots volleyball team has gone national.

CF on Wednesday earned the first NJCAA Top 20 ranking in program history, taking the No. 20 spot in just the third weekly poll released in its inaugural season.

While expanding its growing reputation nationwide, the poll also further establishes CF as a Florida powerhouse. The 17-3 Patriots are joined only by No. 10 Miami-Dade, a perennial NJCAA title contender, among nationally-ranked FCSAA programs.

The Patriots can validate their newfound status with a victory Thursday over defending Mid-Florida Conference champion FSC-Jacksonville. The Stars were ranked 12th in the NJCAA preseason poll, but have since fallen out of the Top 20.

CF Patriots 3, St. Johns River 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida improved to 2-0 in Mid-Florida Conference volleyball play Tuesday night, handling host St. Johns River in an emphatic 25-16, 25-16, 25-8 sweep.

Prolific hitters Vanessa Benke and Christine Pinder led the Patriots offensively, as the freshman Benke totalled 14 kills and sophomore Division I transfer Pinder added 9. Libero Nino Mukasashvilli had 11 digs, and the CF squad combined for 9 service aces.

The win gives the Patriots (17-3, 2-0 MFC) momentum entering Thursday's showdown on the home court of defending conference champion FSC-Jacksonville. The two teams are considered favorites to claim the MFC's two state tournament berths and expect to battle each other for the conference title.

After visiting Jacksonville, CF hosts each of its conference rivals for a match apiece in October to complete the MFC's efficient six-game schedule. The teams with the two best conference records will advance to the FCSAA State Tournament in November.

CF Patriots 3, Pensacola 0; Pasco-Hernando 3, CF 1 (Volleyball)

Central Florida defeated a fellow top-5 Florida team Saturday night, sweeping Pensacola in 3 games. The Patriots lost their second match of the day,  a 4-set setback to defending NJCAA Division II champion and invitational tournament host Pasco-Hernando that represents CF's first-ever loss away from home.

FCSAA No. 4 CF handled No. 5 Pensacola 25-16, 25-22, 25-23. The homestanding Conquistadors edged the Patriots 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23.

Vanessa Benke and Christine Pinder had 35 kills apiece and Eleanora Kazarian added 22 kills and 8 blocks. The Patriots continue to field makeshift lineups as a number of key players recover from injuries.

CF (16-3) now refocuses on Mid-Florida Conference play, visiting St. Johns River on Tuesday and FSC-Jacksonville on Thursday as the race for one of the conference's two state tournament berths heats up.

CF Patriots 3, Clearwater Christian 2; CF 3, Palm Beach 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida's perfect record away from home remained intact Friday night as the Patriot volleyball team handled Clearwater Christian College and NJCAA rival Palm Beach State.

Playing in an invitational tournament at Pasco-Hernando CC, CF (15-2) defeated CCC, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, in 5 sets, 25-17, 22-25, 25-11, 23-25, 15-12. The Patriots had an easier time with the Panthers, winning in straight sets 25-23, 25-15, 25-18.

Christine Pinder totalled 30 kills and 22 digs and Vanessa Benke 24 kills and 35 digs to lead the Patriots. Eleanora Kazarian added 20 kills and Nino Mukasashvilli 22 digs as CF continued to notch victories despite a roster curtailed by injuries.

The Patriots continue to navigate the PHCC bracket on Saturday, then resume their crucial Mid-Florida Conference slate next week with visits to St. Johns River on Tuesday and defending conference champion FSC-Jacksonville on Thursday.

Patriot Report: CF Softball's Miranda Anderson

The Sept. 15 edition of the Patriot Report, with host Kayla Wisniewski of the College of Central Florida Student Activities Board. This episode's featured guest is Miranda Anderson, sophomore cleanup hitter of the Patriot fast-pitch softball team. Anderson discusses her new freshmen teammates, her transition from high school to college and the benefits of attending college close to home.

CF Rounds Out Baseball Staff with Bove, Stenberg

CF Patriots baseball coach Marty Smith has assembled a new staff of assistants in former Patriot star Zach Bove and baseball veteran Arthur Stenberg.

Bove is a familiar name to Patriot baseball fans. The Winter Haven native was an all-conference first baseman for CF in 2007 and 2008 before moving on to Flagler College in nearby St. Augustine. Bove proved a star-caliber talent at the NCAA level, as well, leading Flagler in batting average and RBI in each of his two seasons with the Division II program.

A former standout player at NCAA Division II University of Tampa, Stenberg comes to CF after recent stints as an assistant at Colorado Northwestern Community College and his alma mater. His diverse baseball experience includes work with a variety of college, high school and youth baseball and personal training programs and a season as clubhouse manager for the Tampa Bay Rays. A pitcher and position player at Tampa, Stenberg will work primarily with the Patriots' pitching staff.

Bove and Stenberg replace departed assistant coach Dan Hersey, who was named this summer as manager of the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League.

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CF Patriots 3, Lake-Sumter 2 (Volleyball)

Freshman setter
Jordyn Wright's
49 assists paced
the Patriot offense.

Central Florida withstood a serious challenge from host Lake-Sumter on Tuesday before taking a 5-set victory in the first Mid-Florida Conference match in CF women's volleyball history.

CF defeated the Lakers 25-27, 25-6, 29-27, 24-26, 15-11.

Freshman setter Jordyn Wright orchestrated a potent CF attack with 49 assists in the epic match. Vanessa Benke had 22 kills, while late signee Eleanora Kazarian continued her recent strong play with an 18-kill effort. Christine Pinder led the Patriots with 22 digs, followed by Nino Mukasashvilli's 17.

The grueling win represents a first step towards a coveted berth in the FCSAA State Tournament. The Patriots (13-2, 1-0 MFC) will have to finish in the top two at the end of the quick 6-game MFC slate to qualify for the postseason; they visit St. Johns River on Sept. 20 and FSC-Jacksonville on Sept. 22, then host their three MFC rivals in October.

Next up, however, is a weekend bid in Pasco-Hernando's invitational tournament, where the Patriots will test their perfect 13-0 record away from home.

CF Volleyball Jumps into Conference Competition

The Mid-Florida Conference women's volleyball schedule is a quick six-match exercise leaving little room for error. For the Patriots, it begins Tuesday night at 7 pm at Lake-Sumter's campus in Leesburg.

Whereas the MFC's baseball, softball and basketball slates include at least a dozen games and provide some leeway for upsets and brief slumps, a losing streak can doom a volleyball team's postseason hopes. Here's how conference play works:

• CF's entry into the MFC this year brings the conference's roster to four, including Lake-Sumter, St. Johns River and FSC-Jacksonville.
• Each team plays the others twice, once on each team's home court, for a total of six matches.
• The top two finishers advance to the FCSAA State Tournament.

CF has established itself as an immediate contender with a red-hot 12-2 start to its inaugural season. The Patriots are likely to battle defending conference champion FSC-Jacksonville for MFC supremacy, while both keep a wary eye on SJR, which claimed the conference's second postseason berth a year ago, and an improving Lake-Sumter program.

Some evidence as to how the Patriots may fare in MFC play has already been filed. Playing in invitational tournaments over the opening weeks of the season, CF has already encountered SJR and Lake-Sumter in non-conference settings. The results were encouraging: CF handled SJR in 4 sets on Aug. 27 and 3 sets on Sept. 10, and swept Lake-Sumter on Sept. 9. And the Patriots planted a flag in FSC-Jacksonville's turf by sweeping through the school's season-opening invitational, though the teams didn't encounter each other on the court.

In a potentially beneficial scheduling quirk for CF's band of road warriors, the Patriots face all three of their conference foes on the road before hosting an MFC home game. Here's the Patriots' full MFC schedule:

• Tuesday, Sept. 13: @ Lake-Sumter
• Tuesday, Sept. 20: @ St. Johns River
• Thursday, Sept. 22: @ FSC-Jacksonville
• Tuesday, Oct. 4: v. FSC-Jacksonville, 7 pm
• Tuesday, Oct. 11: v. Lake-Sumter, 7 pm
• Monday, Oct. 17: v. St. Johns River, 7 pm

Patriots Ranked Fourth in Season's First State Poll

The first FCSAA women's volleyball coaches' poll of the 2011 season has been released, and the CF Patriots volleyball team is ranked fourth. Here's the full top-five poll:

1. Miami-Dade
2. Hillsborough
3. FSC-Jacksonville
4. CF Patriots
5. St. Petersburg

CF Patriots 3, St. Johns River 0; CF 3, Pasco-Hernando 0 (Volleyball)

Though its first home victory remains to be recorded, the inaugural CF Patriots volleyball team continues to conquer all foes away from its home court. CF won another invitational tournament Saturday, this one at Palm Beach State College, with straight-set victories over St. Johns River and Pasco-Hernando.

CF (12-2) beat Mid-Florida Conference rival SJR in a non-conference match 25-8, 25-18, 25-10, then avenged its Sept. 6 loss to Pasco-Hernando in Ocala by a convincing margin of 25-17, 25-20, 25-18.

The Patriots open MFC play Tuesday at Lake-Sumter; their next home game is Sept. 28 at 7 pm against Warner University.

CF Patriots 3, Palm Beach 1; CF 3, Lake-Sumter 1 (Volleyball)

The Patriots volleyball team continued a torrid start to its inaugural season Friday with a pair of 4-set wins over Florida rivals.

Playing at a tournament at Palm Beach State College, CF handled the host Panthers 25-15, 23-25, 26-24, 25-21, then defeated Mid-Florida Conference rival Lake-Sumter 24-26, 25-23, 25-10, 25-14 in a non-conference match.

The Patriots, now 10-2 overall and a perfect 10-0 away from home, continue their two-day visit to Palm Beach on Saturday. They visit Leesburg on Tuesday for a high-stakes rematch with Lake-Sumter; the match is the first of a quick six-game MFC schedule that will determine the conference's two state tournament representatives.

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Patriot Report: Volleyball Captain Christine Pinder

Host Kayla Wisniewski of the CF Student Activities Board interviews Patriot sophomore volleyball captain Christine Pinder in the debut of the Patriot Report on CFPatriots.com.

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CF's Benke, Wright Among State's Statistical Leaders

Hard-hitting freshman Vanessa Benke is averaging 3.9 kills per set through the season's opening two weeks, ranking her third among FCSAA finishers.

The native Brazilian also cracked the top 15 in two other key categories. Benke ranks 13th in the state in hitting efficiency at 31 percent and 11th in digs with a 3.5 average per set.

Sophomore Christine Pinder joins Benke as a top-15 finisher, checking in at No. 14 with 3.3 kills per set.

The dominant outside duo is cashing in on the opportunities presented by Jordyn Wright, the Patriots' consistent setter. The former Atlanta prep star has made a seamless transition to the college level, ranking fourth in the state with an average of 8.6 assists per set.

The full Patriot stat report and FCSAA state leaderboard are online for your perusal.

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Pasco-Hernando 3, CF Patriots 1 (Volleyball)

A shorthanded Central Florida women's volleyball team took another tough home-court loss on Tuesday, falling to defending NJCAA Division II champion Pasco-Hernando in 4 sets, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22.

(Watch the webcast of the match at Panhandle Broadcasting.)

CF (8-2) produced a valiant effort in the fourth and decisive set, recovering from a 16-9 deficit to tie the set at 20 apiece before a seasoned Conquistadors squad secured the win.

Christine Pinder had 17 kills and Vanessa Benke 13 kills for the Patriots, who played without three projected starters in setter Ellie Harp and hitters Rebekah Reeves and Carolline Reis. All are expected back over the next few weeks.

The Patriots take to the road again for a three-week stretch that includes their first Mid-Florida Conference match, a Sept. 13 visit to Lake-Sumter. They return home Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 pm against Warner University.

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Former Hurricanes Star Grimsley Joins Lady Patriot Staff

Central Florida women's basketball coach Cheryl Rice has added former University of Miami star Albrey Grimsley to the Lady Patriot coaching staff.

A native of Fort Pierce, Grimsley enjoyed a stellar playing career with the Hurricanes. The 5-9 point guard started 55 games over her junior and senior years, leading the team in assists each season. As a senior in 2007-08, Grimsley produced career-high averages of 8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game; she also led the team in free-throw percentage at 71 percent.

Grimsley transitioned smoothly into coaching after her playing career, working with the Miami Suns youth development program. She comes to CF after a season as assistant coach at Indian River State College.

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CF Patriots 3, Sandhills 0; CF 3, Wake Technical 0 (Volleyball)

The CF Patriots volleyball team finished off a perfect 12-set road trip on Saturday, sweeping North Carolina schools Sandhills and Wake Technical for the second consecutive day.

CF beat Sandhills 25-8, 25-12, 25-10, and host Wake 25-10, 25-17, 25-11, similar margins of victory to Friday's pair of matches against the same opponents.

The 8-1 Patriots now return to Ocala to prepare for their second opportunity to claim the first home-court win in program history. They host Pasco-Hernando at 7 pm Tuesday in the renovated CF gymnasium.

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CF Patriots 3, Wake Technical 0; CF 3, Sandhills 0 (Volleyball)

The CF Patriots volleyball team got back on track Friday with a pair of victorious matches in Raleigh, N.C.

CF knocked off host Wake Technical College 25-15, 25-12, 25-13, and handled fellow North Carolina program Sandhills CC 25-8, 25-7, 25-11.

Amber Wyborny had 8 aces, Vanessa Benke 22 kills and Eleanora Kazarian 13 kills for the Patriots.

The victories improved CF's early-season record to 6-1, including a perfect 6-0 on the road, and helped erase the memories of Wednesday's disappointing loss in its inaugural home match.

The Patriots play another pair of matches at Wake Technical on Saturday before returning home for their second-ever home match, set for 7 pm Tuesday versus Florida rival Pasco-Hernando.

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Patriots Sign NYC Hoops Prodigy Jordan Parks

CF Patriots men's basketball coach Tim Ryan has made a final addition to his 2011-12 signing class, and the new recruit is one of CF's most intriguing prospects in recent memory.

Jordan Parks is a wiry, athletic 6-6 forward out of Charter Magnet High School in Queens, N.Y. He thrived on the relentless New York City prep scene, averaging 15 points per game in leading his team to a third-place finish in the Queens AA division and earning interest from the likes of Seton Hall, Hofstra and other Division I schools, according to the New York Post.

What's more, he accomplished all that while giving up a full year of experience to most of his senior counterparts; Parks doesn't turn 18 until the spring of 2012.

The Patriots will slot Parks into a promising rotation that includes fellow scoring forwards Eugene McCrory, Will Saunders,  Jeremiah Eason and Stetson University transfer Luis Jacobo. Any combination of the above should prove a suitable complement to incumbent center Alhaji Fullah, the returning defensive anchor of last year's Mid-Florida Conference championship team.

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