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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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MU
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21
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20
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23
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-
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-
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0
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USF
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25
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25
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25
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-
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-
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3
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Top Performers
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MU
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Player
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Kills
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Hit %
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Ast.
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Digs
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BS/BA
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0 |
-.333
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34
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6
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0/0
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Rabbecka Gonyo
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10
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.500
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0
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1
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2/1 |
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USF
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Player
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Kills
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Hit %
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Ast.
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Digs
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BS/BA
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11
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.450
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0
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2
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0/1
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14
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.400
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0
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0
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3/1
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Volleyball Central
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GoUSFBulls.com
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Gameday Links
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Watch Live
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Gamenotes
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Social Media
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Interactive Guide
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TAMPA - The University of South Florida volleyball team opened up their BIG EAST season on Friday by throttling Marquette in straight sets.
USF head coach Claire Lessinger stressed all week that despite some inconsistency in the beginning part of their season, that the BIG EAST portion would be a chance to start fresh again. It didn't take the Bulls long to show their new found success, as they opened up the first set 6-0, and would not look back.
The Bulls were out to prove a point, and they impressed the home crowd, and the group of 20 former Bulls who were in attendance for alumni weekend.
Marquette was picked to finish fourth in the conference, but the Golden Eagles looked outmatch by the Bulls, who took the match in consecutive sets (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) to improve to 1-0 in conference play.
Senior Allie Boaz returned after missing last weekend's Hilton Garden inn Tournament with a sore knee, and the outside hitter gave the Bulls a jolt of energy in the first set. Boaz collected six kills in nine attempts in the opening frame, and finished with 14 kills, as she hitting .400 on the night. The Illinois native also collected three solo blocks and a block assist in the win.
In just the second start of her career, Erika DeVaughn finished with a career high 11 kills in 20 attempts, one of five Bulls to hit above .300 in the match.
Senior Mariana Thon assisted on 38 kills for the Bulls in the three set sweep, and was very productive offensively, recording four kills in five attempts.
Freshman Andrea Rodriguez Gomez led the way in the middle of the court, picking up seven kills in 11 attacks for a .636 percentage.
USF outhit the Golden Eagles on the night .374 to.240 and out-blocked their BIG EAST foe seven to six.
USF opened up the first set on a 6-0 run, and despite the Eagles keeping it close the majority of the opening frames, the Bulls were able to take set No. 1 25-21. The Bulls hit .429 in the opening frame collecting 16 kills and committing just four errors.
It was more of the same from the Bulls in set No. 2, as the home team, fueled by the crowd, hit above .400 for the second consecutive set. USF got six more kills from Boaz, and 10 assists from setter Thon, to take the second frame 25-20.
After a lot of back-and-forth early on in the third set, the Bulls were able to stretch a lead to 16-10, and after a flurry of MU points fell, the Bulls found themselves behind 22-20. After a timeout by Lessinger, the Bulls got back-to-back points before the Golden Eagles made it 23-22. A kill by Rodriguez Gomez and an attack error by Marquette left the Bulls with set and match point.
After a short volley, Marquette got a nice set and attack from their front line, but Boaz leaped and blocked it at the net, for the final point and the 3-0 win.
The straight set win was the third of the year for the Bulls, and their first since they shutout Southeast Missouri in the opening game of the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill.
USF will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as they host undefeated Syracuse University at 2 p.m. in the Corral.
As always, live stats, a live stream and a live chat will be offered on GoUSFBulls.com and Bullsvision.
