Outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade sets high bar in collegiate debut
TAMPA, Fla. (August 26, 2022) – Freshman Maria Clara Andrade (São Paulo, Brazil) tallied a total of 34 kills and 15 digs on Friday at The Corral in the first two matches of the season. The University of South Florida Bulls swept William & Mary to begin the day and lost a five-set battle in the nightcap to Ball State.
CC Clausen (The Woodlands, Texas) combined for 43 digs between the two matches to raise her career total to 1,673. Clausen is now 75 digs away from setting a new program record.
Match 1 vs. William & Mary
USF claimed the season opener by set scores of 25-18, 25-23, 25-18.
Andrade finished the match with 11 kills and three service aces, already setting high standards for her career with the Bulls.
Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Kan.) led the team in blocks, posting four block assists and two solo blocks. Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) and Amiree Hendricks-Walker (Los Angeles, Calif.) posted three total blocks each.
Clausen and freshman Tatiana Johnson (Frederick, Md.) led the back row with 8 digs each.
Match 2 vs. Ball State
Ball State won both of its match in Tampa on Friday, defeating South Alabama in four sets and USF by set scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13.
Andrade posted her first career double-double with 23 kills and 12 digs. Amanda DeWitt (Jupiter, Fla.) nearly matched her 16-kill career-high with 15 on the night.
Puljiz and Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) both matched their career high of four service aces in a match. Cvitkovic nearly missed a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs in the match.
Johnson and Kelsey O’Loughlin (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) combined for 56 assists as the USF offense floored 69 total kills.
Clausen led the back row with a near career-high of 35 digs.
Up Next:
The Bulls return tomorrow to The Corral at 1 p.m. for their last match of the USF Opening Weekend Invitational. Follow along on social media @USFVolleyball and ESPN+.
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her third season at the helm of her alma mater in 2022. 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 50th campaign in 2021-22. 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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