JACKSONVILLE, September 15, 2023 – Junior Amanda DeWitt (Jupiter) set a new career-high of 21 kills in the University of South Florida’s 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-12, 15-13) win over the USC-Upstate Spartans on Friday afternoon in the UNF Sunshine Invitational.
DeWitt complemented her career-high with one ace and four total blocks. Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) followed with 15 kills, three aces, and 14 digs. She finished with her 17th career double-double and her first of the season. In the match, Niki Khoshatefeh (Temecula, Calif.) tied DeWitt with four blocks.
The first set started off back-and-forth, but the Spartans went on a 7-3 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Bulls closed the lead to one point after answering with a 6-1 run of their own. USC-Upstate took the first set, 25-22.
The Bulls and Spartans battled through the entire second set, tying at 22. A block from Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) and DeWitt ended the set and tied the match at a set apiece.
South Florida jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the third set. USC-Upstate battled back and tied the set at 24, and eventually took the set, 26-24.
The Bulls ran away with the fourth set, winning 25-12. The Green and Gold finished with a .364 hitting percentage and held Upstate to a -.065.
South Florida battled back from a four-point deficit in the fifth set. They closed out the match with a 5-0 run.
UP NEXT
The Bulls will take a small break before playing hosts, North Florida, at 7:30 p.m.
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her fourth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2023. Named head coach on Jan. 8, 2020, Shepardson led the Bulls’ program to its last conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002. USF made its last postseason appearance in 2018, posting 20 wins and appearing in the NIVC. USF Volleyball has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 12 conference titles since its inception in 1972 and is entering its 50th campaign in 2021-22. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus.
Be sure to follow USF women’s volleyball on social media (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
– #GoBulls –
