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Scoreboard
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Team
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Set 1
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Set 2
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Set 3
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Set 4
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Set 5
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Final
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| Seton Hall |
23 |
23 |
27 |
22 |
- |
1 |
| USF |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
- |
3 |
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TAMPA- The University of South Florida improved their stock in BIG EAST play with a 3-1 win over Seton Hall on Friday night at the Corral.
The Bulls returned to play at home after three consecutive weekends on the road, and the team was fueled by their home environment to jump out to the early two set lead, and eventually knocked off the pesky Pirates 3-1.
USF entered Friday's match a half game ahead of Seton Hall for sixth place in the conference, and earned themselves some breathing room, as they battle to get into the BIG EAST Championships in a few weeks.
The Bulls improved to 6-4 in league play and 10-11 overall with the win, having arguably one of their better offensive games of the season.
The Bulls combined to collect 64 kills in the match, while hitting .303 as a team, compared to just .250 by the Pirates.
USF was propelled by their senior outside hitter, Allie Boaz, who recorded a match-high 22 kills in the win, hitting .439 for the Bulls. Boaz added two solo blocks and a pair of block assists on the night.
The Bulls got a career performance out of Kamika Rozier, who set the tone for the night by picking up six kills in the opening frame, and finishing the match with 13 overall, a career high for the junior outside hitter from California.
Caitlyn Breen played a major roll for the Bulls, as the middle blocker collected seven kills in the winning effort, while hitting a match high .538.
Senior setter Mariana Thon collected 49 kills to help pace the Bulls' offense, and moved into fourth place in program history in assists, passing Ale Domingos on the all-time list. Thon has now recorded 2,688 assists in her four year career.
Following three consecutive road trips, it was apparent early on that USF was happy to be back home in the Corral. The Bulls fed off of the 500+ USF fans in attendance, and behind Rozier and Boaz took the early lead. Seton Hall would hang around until the Bulls took a timeout late in the set, sparking a 4-0 run to help them take the opening set, 25-23.
In set number two, USF turned to their seniors Thon and Boaz, and behind powerful attacks from Boaz, USF took the lead once again. The Pirates, frustrated by Thon's jump serve, allowed the Bulls to go on a 5-0 run, but were able to cut the USF lead to 24-23. Seton Hall then had serve, but sent it into the net, to give USF the set, 25-23, and the two sets to none lead.
After dramatic back-and-forth action throughout the third frame, USF held onto a slim 23-21 lead, and looked to be on the verge of closing out the match in straight sets, but the Pirates stormed back for three straight, and after USF fought off a pair of set points, Seton Hall was able to close it out, 27-25.
With momentum shifting in set number four, USF fed off of the home environment, and was finally able to close of the Pirates once and for all 25-22 in set four, to take the match 3-1.
The Bulls remain at home on Sunday, when they will welcome in Rutgers in the Bulls' annual “Dig Pink” match. The match will help to benefit the Sideout Foundation for Breast Cancer awareness, and the first 200 fans will receive a free t-shirt. All cancer survivors will be admitted into the match for free and will be recognized in between sets two and three.
