CF Patriots 3, St. Petersburg 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida concluded a wildly successful inaugural volleyball regular season Friday with a sweep at St. Petersburg, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.

CF stat leaders included Eleanora Kazarian (10 kills), Carolline Reis (9 kills), Jordyn Wright (41 assists), Christine Pinder (16 digs), Vanessa Benke (12 digs) and Amber Wyborny (12 digs).

The Patriots head to the postseason with a 37-5 record, a 12-match winning streak, and rankings of No. 11 in the nation and No. 2 in the state of Florida. They face Indian River State on Friday, Nov. 4, in the opening round of the FCSAA State Tournament in Jacksonville.

CF Volleyball to Hold Tryout December 4

Central Florida head volleyball coach Flavia Siqueira will hold an open tryout session Sunday, December 4, from 3 pm to 5 pm in the CF gymnasium.

Tryouts are open to high school graduates and high school seniors who will be graduating in the spring or summer of 2011, as well as college students transferring from four-year or two-year colleges and universities. Any student planning to transfer from a two-year program must have a release agreement from her previous college.

Registrants must provide a copy of high school or college transcripts and must have had a physical exam within the past year. Appropriate athletic apparel is required to participate.

Participants will be evaluated on overall skill and technique, strength and physical conditioning, and understanding of the sport.

Contact Coach Siqueira at 352-854-2322, ext. 1456, or siqueirf@cf.edu for additional information.

CF Alum Foster Recovering from Injury

Central Florida men's basketball alumnus Kevin Foster has run into some early adversity in his junior season at Division I Fresno State University. The 2010-11 Mid-Florida Conference player of the year is recovering from an off-the-court accident that may cost him the early portion of the Bulldogs' regular season. 

From the Fresno Bee:

Foster has a sprained ankle and Achilles, suffered off the court in a push-scooter accident. He said nothing is broken and he could be back at practice Monday or Tuesday. He expects to be ready for the Nov. 11 opener against Illinois State.

"I'll be OK," he said. "I'll be in shape."

First-year coach Rodney Terry said he'll be cautious with the 6-foot-7 junior: "We're not going to try to rush him back out there because we need him when it counts. He is a guy we're going to rely on throughout the year."

Player of the Year Benke Headlines CF Conference Volleyball Honors

Hard-hitting freshman Vanessa Benke
is the 2011 Mid-Florida Conference
Player of the Year.

Central Florida freshman outside hitter Vanessa Benke has been named 2011 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year, headlining a list of five Patriots recognized on the MFC's postseason all-conference teams.

Benke was joined on the first team by sophomore outside hitter Christine Pinder and freshman setter Jordyn Wright. Freshmen Eleanora Kazarian and Amber Wyborny made the all-MFC second team.

Head coach Flavia Siqueira earned MFC Coach of the Year honors by virtue of the Patriots' perfect 6-0 conference championship season.

The Patriots complete their regular season this weekend, then make their postseason debut on Friday, Nov. 4 against Indian River State in the opening round of the FCSAA State Tournament.

CF Alum Cecil Stars in Annual Mercer Scrimmage

Former CF Patriots sharpshooter Justin Cecil got his senior season at Mercer University off to a dramatic start Sunday, hitting a game-winning jumper with seven seconds to play to give his squad a two-point win in the Bears' annual preseason intrasquad scrimmage.

Cecil, an all-conference performer at CF in 2009-10, finished with 9 points and hit 2 of 4 three-point attempts. The 6-8 forward appeared in 30 games for the Bears as a junior, averaging 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

CF Patriots 3, Gadsden State 0; CF 3, Gulf Coast 0 (Volleyball)

Add another milestone to CF's remarkable debut volleyball season: a double-digit win streak.

The Patriots won their 10th consecutive match on Saturday to cap off a two-match afternoon and perfect four-match visit to an invitational tournament at Gulf Coast. CF beat Gadsden State 25-16, 25-13, 25-22, and the host Commodores 25-13, 25-14, 25-20.

Christine Pinder had 23 kills, Eleanora Kazarian had 19 and Vanessa Benke added 18 to pace the CF offense. Setters Ellie Harp and Jordyn Wright collected 42 and 33 assists, respectively, and Amber Wyborny led with 25 digs.

The NJCAA No. 11 Patriots (36-5) visit St. Petersburg next weekend in their final regular-season tune-up prior to its Nov. 4 state tournament opener.

CF Patriots 3, Andrew College 0; CF 3, Faulkner State 0 (Volleyball)

Freshman Eleanora Kazarian led CF
with 22 assists in a pair of victories
Friday.

Central Florida entered the final stretch of its inaugural volleyball regular season Friday with a pair of straight-set victories over out-of-state NJCAA opponents.

Playing in an invitational event at Gulf Coast, the Patriots (34-5) beat Georgia program Andrew College 25-10, 25-8, 25-3, and Alabama's Faulkner State 25-12, 25-17, 25-23.

The constantly-improving Eleanora Kazarian had 22 kills on the day, racking up 11 in each match. Patriot setters Ellie Harp and Jordyn Wright enjoyed a solid outing apiece, as Harp collected 21 assists against Andrew and Wright posted 29 in the late match. CF combined for 21 team service aces.

The Patriots play again at Gulf Coast on Saturday before concluding the regular season next weekend at St. Petersburg. The team has already completed an undefeated run through its Mid-Florida Conference and clinched its spot in the FCSAA State Tournament, which it will open against Indian River on Nov. 4 in Jacksonville.

Patriot Report: Lady Patriot Quinnecia Twine

The Oct. 21 edition of the Patriot Report, hosted by Kayla Wisniewski of the College of Central Florida Student Activities Board. In this edition, Kayla talks to Quinnecia Twine, returning sophomore star for the CF Lady Patriots women's basketball team, about her breakout performance in last year's state tournament and her goals for the upcoming season. Visit www.cfpatriots.com for more CF athletics.

Mizzou Blog Rock M Nation Debuts Ratliffe Watch

University of Missouri sports fans know that the blog Rock M Nation is among the best media outlets covering Tigers athletics. This season, thanks to an agreement with CFPatriots.com, Rock M Nation's talented writing staff will focus its insight and analysis on Ricardo Ratliffe, Mizzou's rising senior power forward and the most accomplished student-athlete in CF Patriots history.

The first edition of Ratliffe Watch, entitled The Sudden Spotlight, is online now. Click here to read it.

Volleyball State Tournament Bracket Released

Click on the bracket for larger version.

NJCAA No. 11 Central Florida will make its postseason volleyball debut next month against unranked Indian River State. The FCSAA State Tournament first-round match is set for 1 pm Friday, Nov. 4 at FSC-Jacksonville.

The Pioneers edged Palm Beach for second place in the Southern Conference behind FCSAA No. 1 Miami-Dade, earning the right to face Mid-Florida Conference champion and FCSAA No. 2 CF. The teams have not and will not play each other in the regular season.

With a victory, the Patriots will play at noon Saturday, Nov. 5 against the winner between Miami-Dade and FSC-Jacksonville. CF played Dade to a near-standoff on Oct. 8 before dropping a decisive fifth set, and has swept three matches from MFC runner-up FSC-J.

The above four teams comprise the Atlantic District, while the Gulf District includes Pensacola, Hillsborough, Polk State and St. Petersburg. The eight-team double-elimination tournament will send two qualifiers to the NJCAA Tournament starting Nov. 17 in West Plains, Missouri. 

Click the image at the top of this post for a detailed bracket.

CF Volleyball Continues to Climb National Rankings

Central Florida has climbed to No. 11 in this week's NJCAA Top 20, marking a new high in national stature for the fast-rising first-year program.

The Patriots, 32-5 and the undefeated champions of the Mid-Florida Conference, are enjoying a steady climb up the rankings since debuting on the national scene at No. 20 on Sept. 21. They ascended to No. 16 two weeks later, then to No. 15 on Oct. 12.

CF is also the highest-ranked Florida program in the current poll, edging defending state champion Miami-Dade by one spot on the list.

CF Patriots 3, St. Johns River 1 (Volleyball)

CF honored Christine Pinder (#2) and Gianesi Tarafa (#7) on
Tuesday as the sophomores played their final home match.

Central Florida celebrated the final home match of its inaugural women's volleyball season with a victory over St. Johns River, 25-10, 25-16, 24-26, 25-16.

The victory capped the Patriots' perfect 6-0 march through their debut Mid-Florida Conference season. CF clinched the conference title a week prior with a win over Lake-Sumter.

Individual standouts for the evening included Christine Pinder (18 kills, 15 digs); Eleanora Kazarian (12 kills); Vanessa Benke (10 kills); Amber Wyborny (19 digs); Jordyn Wright (30 assists); and Ellie Harp (20 assists). The Patriots combined for 10 aces.

The Patriots, 32-5 and ranked 15th in the nation and second in the state, play a pair of weekend road matches to round out the regular season before the FCSAA State Tournament begins Nov. 4 in Jacksonville. CF will draw the runner-up of the Southern Conference in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament; two teams will advance to the NJCAA Tournament later next month in Missouri.

The Patriots have gone undefeated at home since losing the first two matches in the renovated CF gym to finish with a solid 6-2 home record. After some early-season jitters, the team has thrived playing in the Patriot Fan Club-fueled fervor of its home gym.

"We can't thank the fans enough. It's been so much fun playing with their energy," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "Playing at home got a lot better."

Prior to the match the Patriots honored Pinder and Gianesi Tarafa, the team's two sophomores, on the occasion of their final appearance in front of home CF fans.

CF Patriots 3, Polk State 0 (Volleyball)

The nation's No. 15 team and 2011 Mid-Florida Conference champions notched another victory Monday as Central Florida swept host Polk State 25-22, 25-18, 25-18.

The Patriots (31-5) got 11 kills apiece from Vanessa Benke and Eleanora Kazarian, while Carolline Reis continued her steady return from injury with 7 kills. Christine Pinder led CF in digs with 18, followed by Amber Wyborny's 12. Setter Jordyn Wright kept up her torrid pace with 44 assists.

CF hosts St. Johns River at 7 pm Tuesday in the final home match of its inaugural season. A win will complete a perfect 6-0 mark in the Mid-Florida Conference.

Ratliffe Set to Rise to New Challenges at Mizzou

Ricardo Ratliffe, the 2010 NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year and the career leading scorer in CF Patriots men's basketball history, enters his senior season at the University of Missouri with a large burden to shoulder.

Ratliffe was poised to reteam with fellow rising senior Laurence Bowers in a talented and experienced Tigers frontcourt. But Bowers' season-ending knee injury scuttled those plans, leaving Ratliffe as the team's only proven presence in the paint.

Bowers' absence, as well as the program's adjustment to incoming head coach Frank Haith,  has tempered expectations for a senior-heavy Tigers team looking to improve on its early exit from last year's NCAA Tournament. Mizzou ranks fourth in the Big 12's projections, and clocks in at No. 22 in Dick Vitale's preseason top 40.

A 6-8, 240-pound power forward out of Virginia, Ratliffe averaged 10.6 points and 6 rebounds per game as a junior while earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors.

CF Patriots 3, Brevard 0; CF 3, South Florida 0 (Volleyball)

A cruising CF Patriots volleyball team recorded two more non-conference victories Saturday with sweeps of Brevard and South Florida.

Playing in an invitational at Brevard, CF handled the host Titans 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 and bested SFCC 25-15, 25-19, 25-11.

Eleanora Kazarian had 24 kills and 4 blocks, Brittany Toney added 14 kills and 3 aces and Amber Wyborny led with 18 digs. Freshman setter Ellie Harp collected 54 assists, while Jordyn Wright added 21. Usual stat-sheet headliners Christine Pinder and Vanessa Benke saw limited action in the interest of some well-earned rest.

CF (30-5) visits Polk on Monday, then returns for its home and Mid-Florida Conference finale Tuesday at 7 pm against St. Johns River. The Patriots have already claimed the MFC title and are seeking an unblemished 6-0 mark in the program's debut conference season.

Patriot Report: CF Big Man Alhaji Fullah

Returning sophomore center Alhaji Fullah is the guest on the Oct. 12 edition of the Patriot Report on CFpatriots.com. Kayla Wisniewski of the CF Student Activites Board talks with the London native about his role as a returning starter, his expectations for the coming season and his reunion with a childhood friend.

CF Patriots 3, Lake-Sumter 0 (Volleyball)

Just six weeks removed from its debut home match, the Central Florida volleyball team has won its first championship.

CF on Tuesday clinched the Mid-Florida Conference title with a straight-set sweep of visiting Lake-Sumter, 26-24, 25-18, 25-23.

The championship represents a major achievement for the fledgling program, transcending the team's already-ambitious preseason goals.

"I told them that the goal was to go to state. That was our main goal," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "It's a great feeling to know that after we've worked so hard, that we've won conference."

The victory improves the Patriots to 5-0 in conference with just one hurdle, a Tuesday home match against winless St. Johns River, separating the first-year program from an undefeated MFC debut. The team's home finale begins at 7 p.m.

Vanessa Benke's 15 kills and 14 digs and Christine Pinder's 13 kills and 11 digs paced the Patriots. Setter Jordyn Wright, honored prior to the match for her remarkable 1,000-assist freshman season, added 42 to her state-high total.

CF (28-5) now claims the MFC's top seed in the upcoming FCSAA State Tournament, an eight-team affair beginning Nov. 4 at Jacksonville. The Patriots will face the runner-up of the Southern Conference; two teams will advance from the state tournament to the NJCAA Tournament starting Nov. 17 in West Plains, Missouri.

Miami-Dade 3, CF Patriots 2; CF 3, FSC-Jacksonville 2 (Volleyball)

The first-year CF Patriots finally faced off with the reigning juggernaut of FCSAA volleyball Saturday and acquitted themselves well in a grueling 5-set loss.

Playing in an invitational tournament at SCF-Manatee, CF fell to defending state champion and current FCSAA No. 1 Miami-Dade 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11.

The Patriots concluded their run in the two-day tournament with a non-conference win over defending Mid-Florida Conference champion FSC-Jacksonville. CF recovered from an 0-2 deficit to shock the Stars 18-25, 18-25, 25-8, 25-19, 15-11 and earn its third victory in as many meetings with its area archrival.

Christine Pinder had 40 kills, Vanessa Benke 28 kills and Eleanora Kazarian 20 kills and 11 blocks to lead the Patriots. Setter Jordyn Wright collected 85 assists over the epic 10-set afternoon.

CF (27-5) returns to Ocala for its second-to-last Mid-Florida Conference match Tuesday. The 4-0 Patriots host Lake-Sumter at 7 pm with an opportunity to clinch the MFC title.

CF Patriots 3, Hillsborough 0; CF 3, Polk State 1 (Volleyball)

Freshman Amber Wyborny
had 44 digs as the Patriots
won a pair of matches
Saturday.

Central Florida stretched its winning streak to six on Friday with a pair of victories at an invitational tournament at SCF-Manatee.

The Patriots swept Hillsborough 25-21, 25-22, 25-20, then beat Polk State 22-25, 27-25, 25-15, 25-15. 

Vanessa Benke had 35 kills and 47 digs on the day, while Christine Pinder added 34 kills and 28 digs and Eleanora Kazarian chipped in 20 kills and 8 blocks. CF's resident defensive specialist and setter also turned in strong respective performances, as Amber Wyborny had 44 digs and Jordyn Wright collected 91 assists.

After weeks spent cultivating its reputation as a new Florida powerhouse, the first-year CF volleyball program gets its close-up Saturday with a neutral-court noon showdown against Miami-Dade. The Sharks are the defending FCSAA champions and the current No. 1 team in the FCSAA state rankings, a notch above the upstart Patriots. They're also the only Florida team to trump CF in the national poll, ranking 11th to the Patriots' 16th.

CF completes its run in the SCF-Manatee tournament Saturday, then returns to Ocala on Tuesday at 7 pm to test its perfect Mid-Florida Conference record against Lake-Sumter.

CF Patriots 3, Brevard 0 (Volleyball)

The red-hot Central Florida volleyball team made quick work of state rival Brevard on Wednesday, completing a perfect 4-game homestand with a convincing 3-set sweep.

The Patriots won 25-18, 25-11, 25-15.

Reigning FCSAA State Player of the Week Christine Pinder had 13 kills and 14 digs to headline a balanced Patriot stat sheet. Vanessa Benke added 12 kills and 18 digs, while Eleanora Kazarian had 9 kills and 2 aces. The team's setters combined for 47 assists, with Ellie Harp collecting 29 and Jordyn Wright contributing 18.

CF (24-4) earned its first-ever home victory to open the homestand Sept. 28 and followed it with three more, including Tuesday's 5-set triumph over defending Mid-Florida Conference champion FSC-Jacksonville.

The Patriots travel to South Florida this weekend for a tournament at SCF-Manatee.

CF Patriots 3, FSC-Jacksonville 2 (Volleyball)

Central Florida reiterated its status as the new dominant force in Mid-Florida Conference volleyball Tuesday with a rugged 5-set victory over FSC-Jacksonville.

The 25-22, 25-27, 25-14, 19-25, 15-8 win kept CF (23-4, 4-0 MFC) undefeated atop the MFC with just 2 games to play, and handed the defending champion Stars their second loss of the season. The Patriots swept the teams' previous meeting Sept. 22 in Jacksonville.

Vanessa Benke collected 17 kills and 19 digs to lead the Patriots, while newly-crowned FCSAA Player of the Week Christine Pinder added 15 kills and 17 digs. Amber Wyborny served as a defensive stalwart with 26 digs, while setter Jordyn Wright turned in another strong effort with 48 assists.

CF jumped to a commanding 10-3 first-set lead before a proud Stars team clawed back to tie the set at 11. The teams traded points until the home team strung a run together for a 3-point winning margin.

The teams then each won a hard-fought set, giving the Patriots a chance to close out in the fourth set. But a resilient FSC-J squad won handily, setting up a decisive final set to 15 points.

CF head coach Flavia Siqueira said the intensity of that fourth set took the Patriots aback.

"It took us forever to realize we were playing," Siqueira said. "Finally we started playing and it was too late."

As the fifth game opened, the Patriots remembered that their opponent was not a team to be overlooked.

"We knew the game was going to be much more difficult here at home than it was at their place," Siqueira said. "We knew they were going to make changes."

Having successfully navigated that tough second attack from the defending champions, CF has taken a commanding lead in its first year contending for the MFC title.

They round out their MFC schedule with a pair of home matches, Tuesday, Oct. 11 versus Lake-Sumter and Monday, Oct. 17 against St. Johns River. The top two finishers in the conference will advance to the state tournament, with the champion earning a preferred spot in the bracket.

First, the Patriots host a 7 p.m. Wednesday visit from non-conference foe Brevard.

Patriot Report: Volleyball's Jordyn Wright

The Oct. 4 edition of the Patriot Report, hosted by Kayla Wisniewski of the College of Central Florida Student Activities Board. This week's guest is Jordyn Wright, freshman setter for the nationally-ranked CF volleyballt team. Visit www.cfpatriots.com for more CF athletics.

Pinder Earns Volleyball Player of the Week Honors

CF's sophomore volleyball captain Christine Pinder has been named the FCSAA Player of the Week, the second consecutive week a Patriot standout has earned the award.

Freshman Vanessa Benke earned the same recognition a week ago.

From the press release:

Pinder dominated at the net last week with 88 kills (4.63/game) and 8 blocks.  She had 73 digs with 4.18 per game.  Pinder  had 27 digs against Polk State College this week.  College of Central Florida had a 5-1 week, putting them in first place in the Mid-Florida Conference.