University of South Florida
Murray State
Volleyball Speeds Past Racers in Three
September 12, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - - The University of South Florida volleyball team won a narrow 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 three set match against the Murray State Racers on Friday afternoon at “The Cave” on the campus of the University of Alabama. With the win, the Bulls move to 5-3 on the season and snap out of a three-match losing streak. Murray State dropped to 3-4.
"We all committed to each other that we were going to stay patient today
and take it one point at a time," said USF head coach Claire Lessinger. "I think the philosophy worked as the
girls worked hard no matter what the score was and never gave up."
Junior outside hitter Marcela Gurgel was nothing short of amazing during the match. In the three sets, Gurgel compiled a season-high 26 kills, five higher than her previous best, while hitting .417. The Fortaleza, Brazil standout connected on eight kills in the first, eight kills in the second, and an incredible 10 kills in the third set. Within those 10, the last three came on the final three points of the match.
"Marcela carried us today and played really big," said Lessinger.
With USF trailing 24-23 late in the third set, Gurgel used a deadly combination of power and placement for three consecutive kills to close out the nail biting match. On the defensive side, Gurgel chipped in with seven digs, second most on the squad behind senior libero Stephanie Augustavo with 11.
No other Bull hit the double-digit kill total, but Nakia Williams shook off a shaky start to play a great third set to end the match with six kills and a match-high five block assists. Junior Alli Arbogast matched Williams' six kills and hit .286 for the match.
In limited action, sophomore Allie Boaz came in and provided a much needed spark. Boaz was a perfect two-for-two in attacks after entering late in the second set. Both kills came at crucial times and pushed the Bulls to the 2-0 lead.
For the Racers, Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden put together 10 kills each while Ashley Nenninger was just one behind at nine. As a team, Murray State hit at a .243 mark while USF was slightly better at .277.
In the first set, USF found themselves down quickly 7-3, but fought back into it with a quick 3-0 run to answer off of two Gurgel kills and a Racers' error. The Bulls never led in the first until another Gurgel kill put the green and gold on top 17-16. The two teams continued to trade points throughout the rest of the first set, but at 23-23, an attack error by Murray State's Alison Mugler gave the Bulls set point. After a long point, USF put an end to the close set after a tall double block from Jarka Havlickova and Williams.
The Racers led the vast majority of the second set as well, but couldn't finish. With USF trailing 14-11, a kill by Williams began a 5-1 run that later included two Gurgel kills and two Racers' attack errors. But just as the Bulls grabbed the lead back, Murray State snatched it away quickly and went on a stretch of their own that propelled the Ohio Valley Conference members to a 23-20 lead late in the set. With the arrival of Boaz to the match, things began to turn around in a hurry. The sophomore out of Bellville, Fla. blasted a missle down the line to jump start a 5-0 run that was capped off by another Boaz kill to slide by the Racers 25-23 in dramatic fashion.
Gurgel controlled the third and final set of the match with 10 kills, but it didn't come easily for the Bulls. Murray State hopped out to another lead in a set at 15-12, but USF remained patient and worked their way back in it. Down a set point though at 24-23, it was gut check time for the Bulls. At that very moment, Gurgel took control. Gurgel closed out the match with three straight kills to put a cap on a performance to remember.
USF will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide tonight at 8 p.m. eastern time. The match can be heard on Press Pass audio.
