Bulls’ top five in kills on the year are all underclassmen
TAMPA, MARCH 27, 2021 – The USF women’s volleyball team (6-8; 3-5 American) closed out its first season under head coach Jolene Shepardson with a pair of losses to defending American Athletic Conference tournament champion UCF (14-1; 8-0) in Orlando.
UCF took both War on I-4 matches 3-0, winning Friday night’s first match, 25-15, 25-18, 25-20, and holding off a game Bulls team on Saturday, 25-23, 25-16, 25-22.
In Friday night’s match, the Bulls were led by middle blocker Makayla Washington (Tallahassee, Fla.) who logged 10 kills and hit .280. It marked the fourth straight match with double-digit kills for Washington.
UCF hit .354 in the first match, to the Bulls .129, and the Knights recorded 11 blocks.
In Saturday’s rematch, the Bulls came out swinging and took a 22-20 lead in the first set before the Knights rallied to pull it out 25-23. UCF once again established control at the net, out-hitting the Bulls, .384-.271, and recording seven blocks.
Freshman outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) led the Bulls with 11 kills while Washington posted her fifth straight match with double-digit kills with 10. Cvitkovic led the Bulls on the season with 214 kills in her first year in Green and Gold, while Washington finished second with 159.
NOTABLE
• Freshman Cvitkovic led the Bulls on the season with 214 kills.
• USF’s top five leaders in kills are all underclassmen: Cvitkovic (214), Washington (159), Plaga (125), Barnhart (91) and St. Cin (77).
• Junior setter Masha Idjilov finished the season with 481 assists.
• Junior libero CC Clausen posted a team-best 247 digs on the year and finished the season with 1,222 career digs to rank eighth all-time at USF, 525 shy of the record of 1,747 held by Michelle Collier (1998-02).
About USF Women’s Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson begins her first season at the helm of her alma mater in 2020-21. 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 49th campaign in 2020-21. 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.
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