USF 3, Jacksonville 2 Box Score PDF | Chat Transcript Postgame Video: Claire Lessinger Hilton Garden Inn Tournament Tampa, Fla. Sept 17-18 USF, New Mexico, FAU and Jacksonville Scoreboard Team Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Final JU 18 25 14 26 11 2 USF 25 19 25 24 15 3 Top Performers JU Player Kills Hit % Ast. Digs BS/BA Kendall Courtney 2 .143 39 11 0/0 Kathryn Kane 13 .130 1 8 0/1 USF Player Kills Hit % Ast. Digs BS/BA Kayla Walton 14 .333 1 1 0/2 Mariana Thon 7 .583 43 10 1/0 Volleyball Central GoUSFBulls.com Roster Coaches Schedule Stats History and Records Gameday Links Watch Live Live Stats Chat Transcript Preview Gamenotes Social Media Facebook @USFVolleyball @USFAthletics Bullsvision Interactive Guide

TAMPA - The University of South Florida Volleyball team walked away from the Hilton Inn Garden Tournament with a win over Jacksonville University in five sets, 3-2.

The Buls finally got their offense going in the five set win over the Dolphins, and the team came out with more intensity and determination than in the previous two matches.

USF dropped their opening two matches of the 2010 Hilton Garden Inn Tournament, winning just one set, but the Bulls pulled it together and battled until the very end, to claim third place, and a victory over their in-state foe.

In front of a crowd of 706 rowdy fans, the Bulls took set one, and the two teams would alternate winning frames the rest of the way, although the Bulls almost pulled off the W in four sets.

USF led two sets to one, and were up 24-22 in the fourth, but could not close out the Dolphins, who landed an ace to force the decisive fifth set, which USF would go on to win.

The Bulls got another stellar performance from libero Janice Rivera, who was all over the Bulls' half of the court in the win, collecting 22 digs while picking up four assists.

Freshman Andrea Rodriguez Gomez was a force on the inside, collecting six kills and assisting on four blocks.

Mariana Thon, once again set the pace of the USF offense, setting 43 assists, a .406 percentage, while recording 10 digs for the Bulls.

USF hit .270 as a team in the match, their highest percentage of the tournament, outing the Doplhins, who went .129 as a team. The Bulls also out-blocked JU on the night, 8.0 to 4.0.

After falling behind early in the first set, the Bulls responded, and were able to stretch their lead to as far as 21-12, before eventually taking the first frame 25-18.

The Bulls fell behind again in set No. 2 and once again clawed their way back, but could not complete the surge, falling in set two 25-19.

The back-and-forth action between the two teams continued, but the Bulls found their stride in set No. 3, hitting .357 as a team, and pulled away to take the 2-1 advantage.

The Bulls' faithful thought USF had the match wrapped up when they led 24-22 in the fourth set, but the Dolphins would not quit, and landed an ace to force the fifth frame.

USF took command at the halfway point and eventually held on to win 15-11, and the match 3-2.

The win by the Bulls placed them third in the Hilton Inn Garden Tournament. Finishing in first place was New Mexico, followed by Jacksonville in second, and Florida Atlantic in fourth.

Sophomore libero Janice Rivera was named to the All-Tournament team. The MVP of the tournament was New Mexico's Lisa Meeter. The rest of the All-Tournament team is as follows: Taylor Hadfield (New Mexico), Ashley Rhodes (New Mexico), Aidan Yeager (Jacksonville), Alison Loeppky (Jacksonville), Janice Rivera (USF), and Jo Tate (FAU).

The Hilton Inn Garden Tournament marks the last game before the Bulls head into the BIG EAST schedule. The Bulls next game will be held on Friday, September 25 against Marquette. The game will be take place in The Corral starting at 7 p.m.