TAMPA, October 12, 2023 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (11-7, 5-2 AAC) welcomes AAC newcomers, the Charlotte 49ers, to The Corral this Friday and Sunday.
The Bulls traveled out west for a pair of matches against UTSA and Wichita State. South Florida swept the Roadrunners on Friday before falling to the Shockers in three sets on Sunday. Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) led the Bulls with 32 kills, averaging 5.33 kills per set.
South Florida joined the American in 2013 and is off to their best start since joining. Through the first five matches, the Bulls are 5-2. The only losses were against Memphis and Wichita State.
South Florida has served a total of 125 aces as a team this season. They lead the American Athletic Conference in team total aces and aces per set. The Bulls averaged 1.89 aces per set which ranks 22nd in the nation. The 125 aces as a team ranks 32nd in the nation.
Marta Cvitkovic leads the American in aces per set with an average of 0.52. She is 21st in the nation in the same category.
Head coach Jolene Shepardson has been a head coach for 13 seasons. She has 149 wins as a head coach. She needs one more to reach 150 in her career.
Friday is the Bull’s annual Volloween match. There will be a student costume contest, face painting, cotton candy, a photo station, and more. On Sunday, USF will have the annual Dig Pink match. The volleyball team will wear their pink jerseys and honor all affected by breast cancer.
WEEKEND ROUND UP
Charlotte (9-9, 2-4 AAC)
Date: Friday, October 13 & 15 | 6 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statistics
Series vs. Charlotte: USF leads, 6-2
Scouting the opponent:
- Charlotte is coming off a pair of losses against SMU and Rice this past weekend.
- Lara Kretschmer leads the 49ers in kills this season with 152. She averages 2.34 per set.
- Sophie Whalen is averaging 3.83 digs per set this season with a total of 249.
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her fourth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2023. 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. 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 –
