University of South Florida
Samford
Volleyball Falls in Four to Samford
September 13, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - - Despite a match-high 24 kills from Marcela Gurgel, the University of South Florida volleyball team (5-5) stumbled in four sets to Samford (8-2) on Saturday afternoon at “The Cave” in Tuscaloosa. The Bulls fell by a final score of 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 19-25.
Samford hopped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the first set and led by four later by a count of 21-17 before USF made things interesting. A quick 3-0 run by the Bulls put the score at just a one point deficit but then Samford got the big points down the final stretch to end the set by a 25-22 final.
USF has dropped the first set in five different matches this season, but all five times, including today, the team has fought back to take the second set. With the green and gold on top 24-20 with set point, the Bulldogs attempted the dramatic late comeback by putting together a 3-0 run, but at 24-23, USF headed into the locker room tied at one set apiece after a Nakia Williams kill following an overpass.
The third set saw Samford bolt out to a 7-4 lead but then senior outside hitter Cynthia Danthon went on an incredible run. She began by blasting a kill on an outside attack then went back to the service line where she served up three consecutive aces, notching a career-high of four while putting the Bulls ahead 8-7.
Later in the set, Gurgel tallied a pair of aces, but despite USF's total of five during the set, Samford took over the lead at 19-18 and would not look back. Samford went on to take the third set 25-22 to put themselves on the doorstep of a victory.
The Bulldogs continued the momentum in the fourth by taking the early lead by four at 10-6. USF put together a 5-1 rally to even the score at 11, but again it was Samford who pulled away late. A setter's attack by Hillary Fountain fell for the kill on match point which dropped the Bulls to the 5-5 record.
Gurgel led the match with her 24 kills and throughout the three-match Invitational, totaled 69 en route to being named to the All-Tournament team. Gurgel hit at a .320 clip while filling the stat sheet with three aces, seven digs, two solo blocks and a block assist.
Williams was second on the team in kills with eight while Allie Boaz connected on seven. Mariana Thon handed out the majority of the assists for the Bulls' offense on the afternoon with 41, tying her season-best.
Stephanie Augustavo led USF with 12 digs and notched double-digit digs in each of the three matches this weekend in Tuscaloosa.
The match against Samford wraps up a seven-match streak away from the Corral in which the Bulls went 2-5. The Bulls will anxiously return home to Tampa to play in front of their fans this upcoming Friday at Noon against Georgia Southern then later that evening at 7:30 against Harvard.
The four-match weekend will then wrap up on Saturday with a doubleheader against Toledo and James Madison.
