University of South Florida
West Virginia
VB Wins Five Set Thriller at West Virginia
October 05, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
Morgantown, W.Va. - - Nakia Williams set a career-high with 19 kills to lead the University of South Florida (11-7, 2-2) over the home West Virginia Mountaineers (5-10, 0-4) in five sets, 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, 26-28, 15-11.
“If we can take some positives from this, it is that we had the opportunity to play in a five setter and take a win," said USF head coach Claire Lessinger. "It felt like we were much more calm, relaxed and confident in that situation today.”
It was the second time in as many days that the senior middle blocker had achieved a new personal best in kills after she connected on 16 against Pittsburgh the day before. Williams hit at a .433 clip and had an exceptional performance especially in the fourth set with seven kills off of nine attacks. Her match-high five block assists and 21.5 points added on to her fine day.
“Both our middles did an excellent job," said Lessinger. "It was our game plan to get it to them and I credit our setters for getting the ball to them. I'm very happy for Nakia that she could do it back-to-back days in front of friends and family.”
It was the first time in USF's 19 game slate so far this season that the team was led in kills by a player other than an outside hitter. Marcela Gurgel has paced the team 16 times while Alli O'Connor chimed in for the other two.
Alli Arbogast was another dominate force as a middle blocker against the Mountaineers. A day after hitting .611 against Pitt, Arbogast came back with another high clip at .476 following a new career-high 14 kills.
Fourteen was also the magic number for junior outside hitter Marcela Gurgel. She achieved that total in both kills and digs in the match against WVU.
A pair of other Bulls, Stephanie Augustavo (18) and Mollie Echols (11) totaled double-digit digs.
USF now gets the opportunity to play five consecutive home matches, four of which are within BIG EAST play. The first of the stretch will be this Friday night as the Bulls welcome Marquette to the Corral. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
