Barnhart Has Strong Showing in USF Loss

Ally Barnhart totaled six kills and three blocks in the Bulls’ loss to Cincinnati

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 8, 2019 – Freshman Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Kan.) helped the USF volleyball team battle against conference leader Cincinnati, with six kills and three blocks in a 3-0 loss on Friday night.

Sophomore Lindsey Pliapol (Daytona Beach, Fla.) led the USF offense with nine kills, while Jac’cara Walker (Gainesville, Fla.) led the defense with a game-high 10 digs.

USF came out aggressive in the first set, jumping out to a 4-0 run ignited by a Nicole Legg solo block. The two teams would trade points for a game-high seven ties and three lead changes. Jac St. Cin (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was able to spark a game-high 5-0 Bulls run with a kill late in the set. The Bearcats were able to battle back and steal the opening set from the Bulls, 25-20.

The second set featured a similar trend that the first set had with both teams trading points for a total of five ties. Lindsey Pliapol (Daytona Beach, Fla.) led the USF offense with a team-high five kills in the set. The Bulls offense totaled a match-high .258 hitting percentage in the set. A late 6-0 run by Cincinnati made a difference in the set, as the Bearcats were able to command a lead the rest of the way.

Walker was able to total three of her six kills in the third set. Walker played a role defensively for the Bulls, commanding the court as she led the defense with 10 digs.

Quotable
Head coach Courtney Draper on encouraging signs from the match:

“I think it was one of our better offensive matches, as a team to be able to hit a .216 is pretty good. That is going to have a lot of success against a lot of teams that were on our schedule this year. I thought Lindsey Pliapol did a great job offensively, hitting .421, and Ally Barnhart was really great tonight, totaling three blocks and hitting .500. Jac’cara Walker was really good on defense, we’re kind of trying her in different spots and she can go anywhere you need her to.”

Up Next
The Bulls will honor their seniors as they return to The Corral on Sunday at noon to host ECU.


About USF Women’s Volleyball
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. 
 
Head coach Courtney Draper led her team to 20 wins in 2018, the most in her time at USF and the most for the program since 2002. The Bulls appeared in the NIVC, the program’s first postseason trip since 2002. Senior outside hitter Jac’cara Walker led USF with 394 kills and recorded her 1000thcareer kill during the 2018 year, on her way to earning first team All-American Athletic Conference honors. USF returns four starters, including its libero, while welcoming 9 newcomers to the fray in 2019 in the form of two transfers and seven freshmen. 
 
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