Box Score

TAMPA - - A battle between Sunshine State rivals on Wednesday afternoon at the Corral did not go as hoped for the University of South Florida volleyball team.  The Bulls dropped the decision to Florida International in a three-set defeat by scores of 17-25, 15-25, 17-25.

In the season finale for USF, the team's comes to a close at 17-14 overall, while FIU ends its regular season with a 28-6 campaign.

The Bulls' 17 total wins this season marks the second most in a season since the 2002 season.  A season ago, the team was able to compile 19 wins.

All-BIG EAST First Team member Marcela Gurgel closed out her junior season with 494 kills thanks to her team-high eight against the Panthers.  Through three seasons, Gurgel already sits in seventh place all-time in school history in total kills.  

Gurgel also tallied an ace to take her season tally to 73 and career total to 196.  Entering next year, the Fortaleza, Brazil native will begin the season in fourth place in USF's all-time charts in the category.

Senior Nakia Williams, who was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, finished off her career as a Bull with seven kills, two blocks and a enormous amount of intensity.

Williams, throughout her years at USF, racked up 306 block assists to place fifth all-time in the USF career records.

Libero Stephanie Augustavo, who played in every match throughout her four year stint at USF, had five digs against the Panthers to amass 1440 total digs to place third all-time behind only Michelle Collier (1,747) and Nikki Richt (1,462).

FIU came into the match with the nation's top offensive player, junior outside hitter Yarimar Rosa, who leads the nation in kills per set at 5.21.  Rosa played true to form with 15 kills on just 27 attacks.  

The Bulls will return 12 of their 15 players for what promises to be an exciting 2009 season, adding incoming freshmen Jessica Burghart from Middleburg, Fla. and J'Beria Davis from Clearwater, Fla.