TAMPA, October 15, 2023 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (13-7, 7-2 AAC) set a season-high of 70 kills in the 3-1 win over the Charlotte 49ers (9-11, 2-6 AAC) in their annual Dig Pink match on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulls won the match with scores of 25-22, 24-26, 25-15, 25-11.
South Florida had four players finish with double-digit kills. Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) led the Bulls with 19 kills and 19 digs. Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) followed with 15 kills, while Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) had 13 and Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) had 11. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) tied her career-high of 56 assists.
South Florida jumped to a 10-2 lead over Charlotte in the opening set. The 49ers clawed their way back to tie the set, but the Bulls closed out the first set on a 3-0 run.
Charlotte found some momentum in the second set to tie it at 24. The 49ers scored the two final points to tie the match at one set each.
The Bulls and 49ers tied seven times through the first 11 points of the third set. Khoshatefeh started a 13-2 run for the Bulls to give them the dominant 24-13 lead. Charlotte scored two more points before South Florida scored the set-winning point.
Charlotte opened the final set by scoring the first five points. South Florida battled back to tie the set at nine points. The Bulls closed out the set by going on a 16-2 run.
NOTABLES
- The Bulls continue their best start in conference play since joining the American in 2013.
- South Florida finished with 10 service aces. Miya Thomas (Gainesville) led with three aces.
- Khoshatefeh finished with a .692 hitting percentage.
- Khoshatefeh and Hazan led with one solo block each.
UP NEXT
South Florida will welcome the North Texas Mean Green to the Yuengling Center on Friday, October 20 for the Black Out Match. The first serve is set for 6 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. 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 –
