VERMILLION, S.D., September 7, 2023 – The University of South Florida volleyball team kicked off the South Dakota Classic with a sweep over the IUPUI Jaguars (25-17, 26-24, 25-15) on Thursday afternoon in Vermillion, S.D.
The Jaguars struck first in the opening set of the match, but a few errors gave South Florida the lead. Of the Bull’s first 15 points, 11 were scored by IUPUI errors. Amanda DeWitt (Jupiter) scored the Bull’s first earned point. By the end of the set, IUPUI’s errors gave South Florida 16 of the 25 points.
The Bulls had a slow start in the second set, falling behind 11-4. South Florida scored four straight points, two from Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) and one from Lauren Lewis (Tarpon Springs) to close the gap to four points. A 6-1 run by the Bulls tied the set at 14 and forced a Jaguars timeout. More errors from both sides kept the set close, but South Florida continued to battle and took the 2-0 lead in the match.
South Florida kept the momentum going, taking an 8-2 lead and forcing an early IUPUI timeout. The Bulls were not fazed by the break. A 7-2 run, led by Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) later in the set gave South Florida the 10-point lead. Three of the last four points were scored by Hazan, Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia), and Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas). The Jaguar’s 45th error of the match sealed the deal for the Bulls.
NOTABLES
- Hazan led the team with eight kills.
- Dykes is 28 assists away from hitting the 2,000 mark in her career.
- Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Ill.) set a new career-high of three service aces.
- Lewis followed with two.
- DeWitt had the lone solo block for the Bulls.
- Dykes led with nine digs.
UP NEXT
The Bulls will continue the South Dakota Classic tomorrow night as they take on hosts, South Dakota, at 8 p.m. (E.T).
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 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.
– #GoBulls –
