JACKSONVILLE, September 16, 2023 – Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) set a new career-high of eight service aces in the University of South Florida’s 3-0 (15-7, 25-15, 25-10) sweep over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on Saturday morning.
With the win, the Bulls finished the UNF Sunshine Invitational undefeated. Amanda DeWitt (Jupiter) was named the UNF Sunshine Invitational MVP. Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) and Cvitkovic also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Joining Cvitkovic, freshman Miya Thomas (Gainesville) served three aces for her season high. Hazan led the match with 11 kills.
South Florida cruised through the first set, winning 25-7. As a team, the Green and Gold finished with a .444 hitting percentage and held Alabama A&M to a -.138 hitting percentage.
The Bulls jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the second set. The Bulldogs closed the gap, but the Bulls coasted to a 25-15 win.
The Bulls continued to cruise through the match, taking an 8-0 lead in the final set. USF would seal the victory with three of their last four points coming off service aces.
NOTABLES
- Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) finished with 19 assists.
- As a team, USF finished with a .387 hitting percentage.
- DeWitt had the lone solo block.
- Niki Khoshatefeh (Temecula, Calif) led with three block assists.
UP NEXT
South Florida will come home and open conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 20 against the Tulane Green Wave. The match is set for 6 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 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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