Jac’cara Walker had a team-high 15 kills in the home debut
TAMPA, Sept. 10, 2019 – The USF volleyball team pulled away from North Florida in the fourth set to win 3-1 in a blackout home opener at the Corral on Tuesday night.
The Bulls improve to 3-3 on the season, while the Ospreys fall to 2-5. USF opened the first set with a close 25-23 victory, highlighted by a match-high 17 team kills. USF got ahead 24-22 when Rafaela Biegelmeyer nailed a service ace, but the UNF attack got the Ospreys back within one. Jac’cara Walker put the first set away with a clutch kill, assisted by Biegelmeyer.
USF fell just shy of taking the second set when the Ospreys won their lone set of the night, 25-23. Walker helped the Bulls tie the set 23-23, but two straight kills from Osprey Solimar Cestero sealed the second set defeat. UNF out-attacked USF in the second set with an attacking percentage of .405, as opposed to the Bulls’ .297.
In the third set the teams battled back and forth in a blacked out Corral, and USF used another 17 kills to take down North Florida , 25-23. The set was gridlocked at 23-23 when Walker once again slammed down to put USF ahead 24-23. Freshman Ally Barnhart put away the set with a kill assisted by Biegelmeyer.
USF pulled away in the fourth set when the Ospreys ran out of gas and the Bulls won the set handily, 25-13. USF opened the final set with a 6-0 run and never looked back, earning its first win at home in 2019.
Key Stat
3 – Three Bulls had double-digit kills on the night, Jac’cara Walker had 15, Lindsey Pliapol finished with 13, while Jac St. Cin contributed 11.
Notable
- Jac’cara Walker led the Bulls with 15 kills on the night.
- Lauren LeBeck led in assists with 28 and had four service aces on the night.
- CC Clausen led with 16 digs.
Up Next
USF will travel to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend for the Gator Invitational. The Bulls will take on No. 10 Florida on Sept. 13 at 12 p.m., Long Beach State at 5 p.m., and then wrap up the weekend facing James Madison at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14.
About USF Women’s Volleyball
Be sure to follow USF women’s soccer 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.
-#GoBulls-
