Mountaineers Come Up Short in Five-Set Battle with UCF - West Virginia University Athletics

Sunday, November 15

Morgantown, W.Va.

12:30 p.m.

West Virginia University

13-11,6-8Big 12

UCF

16-9,8-7Big 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UCF	18	25	28	20	15	3
West Virginia	25	22	26	25	11	2

West Virginia volleyball loses to UCF in five sets in Morgantown

November 15, 2026 04:10 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats

By: Farris Murad

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University volleyball team (13-11, 6-8 Big 12) fell to UCF, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon inside Hope Coliseum. The Mountaineers dropped the five-set match by scores of 25-18, 22-25, 26-28, 25-20 and 11-15.

WVU opened the match strong, taking the first set, 25-18. The Mountaineers used a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort at the net to build separation. WVU finished the frame with 12 kills on a .385 hitting percentage and recorded five of its six total blocks in the match.

UCF (16-9, 8-7 Big 12) responded in the second set, overcoming an early deficit to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-22 win. The Mountaineers held a 20-15 advantage before the Knights rallied to score 10 of the final 12 points and take the set.

The third set featured 11 ties and four lead changes as both teams battled throughout. West Virginia pushed the frame beyond the 25-point mark, fending off three set points, but UCF came away with a 28-26 victory to take a 2-1 match advantage.

The Mountaineers answered in the fourth set, taking control early and building a 12-6 lead. WVU maintained its advantage throughout the frame, earning a 25-20 win to force a decisive fifth set. West Virginia recorded 12 kills in the set, while holding UCF to nine.

In the fifth, UCF jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and maintained its advantage, not allowing a tie or lead change throughout the frame. The Mountaineers battled back, cutting the deficit to 11-13, but the Knights scored the final two points to secure the 15-11 set victory and the match.

Senior outside hitter Nina Horning led the Mountaineers with 17 kills on a .371 hitting percentage. Sophomore right side Anna Barr and freshman outside hitter Macie Smith each added 13 kills, while senior middle blocker Maddy McGath contributed seven kills on a team-best .500 hitting percentage.

Freshman setter Lauren Duncan made her second start of the season and finished with 30 assists, while senior setter Alexis Finnvold added 21. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Reagan Turk paced the defensive effort with 20 digs, followed by Horning with eight and Duncan and Smith collecting seven apiece.

Freshman defensive specialist/libero Cassie Bruns reached a new season high by a Mountaineer, recording a career-best five aces, tying for second all-time for most in a match by a WVU player.

West Virginia finished the afternoon with 63 kills and a .257 hitting percentage. UCF recorded 64 kills on a .274 clip and held a 12-6 advantage in blocks. The Mountaineers matched their season high in service aces with 10, while UCF recorded seven.

Next up, the Mountaineers travel to Lawrence, Kansas, for the final road stand of the season to take on the Jayhawks on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET before heading over to Manhattan, Kansas, for a meeting with Kansas State on Nov. 22 at noon ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUVolleyball on Facebook, Instagram and X.