The Bulls are one win away from clinching at least a share of the East Division
TAMPA, FLA., November 10, 2023 – Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) and Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) combined for 46 kills in the University of South Florida volleyball team’s (17-10, 11-5 AAC) 3-2 win over the East Carolina Pirates (18-9, 9-7 AAC) on senior day Friday afternoon.
The Bulls won with scores of 25-23, 12-25, 23-25, 31-29, 15-12.
Hazan’s 24 kills led the match while Andrade followed with 22. Hazan also finished with two service aces, nine digs, and three block assists. Andrade had one service ace, 14 digs, and one block assist. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) dished out 55 assists and had the only solo block for the Bulls.
The Bulls were slow to start the match, falling behind 9-3. Andrade started a 12-1 run that gave South Florida a 15-11 lead. The Bulls held control of the set through the end to take the set 25-23.
South Florida fell behind early in the second set and could not return. ECU took set two to tie the match.
The Bulls and Pirates battled throughout the third set. ECU closed it out with six straight points to secure the set win.
South Florida wasn’t going down without a fight, which is what the fourth set was. The set had six lead changes and 19 ties. The Bulls were one point from taking the set, but they traded points with the Pirates until they were tied at 29. Two straight errors from ECU forced a fifth set.
The Bulls and Pirates tied at five early in the set. Hazan started a 3-0 run and reached eight to switch sides. The Pirates took the one-point lead, 10-9, but the Bulls answered with four straight points. Hazan and Cvitkovic scored the final two points to seal the comeback win.
NOTABLES
- With the win, the Bulls need one more to clinch at least a share of the AAC East Division title.
- The 71 kills as a team set a new season high.
- The match included 38 ties and 17 lead changes.
- As a team, the Bulls served nine aces.
UP NEXT
The Bulls will travel south as they take on the Florida Atlantic Owls on Thursday and Friday. The matches are set for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.
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.
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