USF ties a season-high with 10 service aces in three-set victory
TAMPA, MARCH 19, 2021 – The USF women’s volleyball team (6-5; 3-3 American) posted their first 3-0, sweep victory of the season Friday, downing Tulane (7-9; 5-3 American) in a scheduled non-conference match-up in The Corral.
The Bulls tied a season-best with 10 service aces in the three-set victory: 25-21, 25-19 and 25-22. USF jumped to an early lead in the first set and held of rallies from Tulane in the second and third sets for their fourth conference win of the season.
The Bulls were led offensively for the second-straight match by middle blocker Makayla Washington (Tallahassee, Fla.) who posted 13 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) added 10 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and freshman Agata Plaga (Gizycko, Poland) returned from an injury to post six kills and a career-best three service aces. Setter Masha Idjilov (Chisinau, Moldova) added four service aces, tying her career high, and dished out 23 assists.
The Bulls took an early lead in the first set with back-to-back kills by Washington, which gave the Bulls a 15-12 lead and forced Tulane’s first timeout of the match. The Green Wave came back with a 4-1 run, forcing a Bulls timeout at 19-18. USF mounted a 4-1 run of its own with kills by Washington and Plaga, which forced a second Tulane timeout at 23-19. Kills by Washington and Plaga wrapped up the first set, 25-21.
The second set started out as a close see-saw battle. The Bulls used a 5-1 run fueled by kills by Jac St.Cin (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Sara Griffith (Chicago, Ill.), a solo block by Washington and an ace by Idjilov to force a Tulane timeout. USF kept the advantage with back-to-back kills by Griffith and Cvitkovic to hold a five-point advantage at 15-10. The Green Wave built momentum with a 3-0 run, forcing a Bulls timeout at 18-16. USF kept the lead with three combo blocks by St.Cin and Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Ks.), along with a kill from each to close the second set, 25-19.
USF trailed early in the third set as Tulane attempted to rally. The Bulls trailed 11-7 when head coach Jolene Shepardson called a timeout. USF closed the gap with pair of kills by Plaga and Cvitkovic and aces by Idjilov and Alexis Williams (St. Louis, Mo.). Another ace by Plaga, a kill by Cvitkovic and a combo block by St.Cin and Barnhart gave the Bulls the lead, 16-15, and forced a Green Wave timeout. Tulane regained momentum as they mounted a 4-0 run and took the lead again at 20-19. Another ace by Idjilov forced a Tulane timeout with USF leading, 23-21. A final kill by Cvitkovic wrapped the third set, 25-22, and gave the Bulls their first sweep of the year.
NOTABLE
• The Bulls tied their season-best in service aces with 10 in the match.
• Makayla Washington led the Bulls in kills and hitting percentage for the second consecutive match.
• Marta Cvitkovic marked her fifth double-double of the year, with 10 kills and 10 digs.
• Agata Plaga posted a new career-high with three service aces.
• Masha Idjilov tied her career best with four service aces.
NEXT UP
The Bulls and Green Wave will be back for the rematch at The Corral Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The match can be viewed live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bulls Unlimited channel on iHeart Radio.
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.
– #GoBulls
