Box Score
TAMPA - - Supported by three straight sets of solid defensive play and timely runs, the University of South Florida volleyball team swept Marquette 25-21, 25-20, 25-16.
The win pushes USF's record to 12-7, 3-2 while the Golden Eagles of Marquette slide down to 7-9, 2-2.
“We've been talking about how important this upcoming home stretch would be, and I thought we came out with the right fire and energy,” said USF head coach Claire Lessinger. “Our good preparation all week led up to the way that we played today.”
The home environment at the Corral was loud as usual, as the Bulls have now taken nine out of 10 matches on their familiar floor, six of which have come in the minimum of three sets.
Junior All-American outside hitter Marcela Gurgel led the pack of attackers in the match with 11 kills and also had a match-high in digs with 12. For Gurgel, it was her 10th double-double of the season and 35th of her career. Behind the baseline, Gurgel was lethal with the jump serve by connecting on six aces, just one shy of matching a career- best mark.
With USF primarily running the 6-2 system, setters Mariana Thon and Brittany Castelamare did an excellent job of spreading the ball around to several different teammates to keep Marquette on their toes. Thon ended the match with 16 assists while Castelamare added in 11.
“We got unbelievable distribution from our setters today by getting several hitters involved,” said Lessinger.
Junior Jarka Havlickova led the Bulls in hitting percentage on the evening with a .417 clip. The Czech Republic native totaled six kills on 12 attacks while taking part in three block assists versus the Golden Eagles.
Alli O'Connor, a true freshman outside hitter, was efficient while registering seven kills on a .312 hitting night and tossed in four digs and her first career solo block.
Senior middle blocker Nakia Williams was once again a force on both sides of the net by pounding down five kills and a match-high five blocks (one solo, four assists).
The USF defense held Marquette to a .067 team hitting percentage, making it the fifth time this season that the Bulls have kept their opposition from topping the .100 plateau.
In the opening set, the Bulls jumped out to a big early lead thanks in part to three Marquette attack errors and a pair of Gurgel aces to jump out on top 5-0. The Golden Eagles kept their heads up though and fought back to even the count at nine apiece. A 4-0 run after leading at 11-10 really separated USF from its conference foe and that ultimate four point margin stayed true to the end of the set at a final of 25-21. It was the first time in five tries in BIG EAST play this season that USF has been able to capture the opening set of the match.
Unlike the first set where the Bulls leaped out to the quick advantage, this time they dug a hole early by trailing 4-0. However, another combination of Marquette attack miscues and kills by Gurgel and Alli Arbogast brought the home team ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the set at 6-5. USF continued to slowly pull away in the set, and led by as many as seven at the 18-11 mark and wound up closing out the set, 25-20, with a Thon ace to head into the intermission up two sets to none.
The third set was highlighted by Gurgel, who helped the team pull away quickly after trailing in the early stage 2-0. An Allie Boaz kill from the right side sent Gurgel back to serve for the first time since the 10-minute break. Gurgel followed up with an astonishing four aces in a run of five points en route to a 9-0 streak by the Bulls that gave them a lead they would not give back. With the crowd on their feet for match point, Havlickova and Williams sent the fans home with an explanation point after a huge double block to wrap up the set 25-16.
“We talked about making runs and not letting them back into sets,” said Lessinger. “After Marcela led us on that big run, I was happy to see us play point-by-point throughout the remainder of the set to get the win.”
On Sunday, the Bulls will look to take their BIG EAST winning streak to three in a row against the visiting Syracuse Orange. Match time is set for 12 Noon.
“Syracuse has great distribution so they are going to be tough to defend,” said Lessinger. “In this league, any team can win on any given day. Every match is up for the taking.”
The game will be broadcast through WBUL and USF Press Pass. Live stats will also be available through the GoUSFBulls.com Web site.
