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CHICAGO - Luck has not been on USF's side on the road of late, and
Friday night was no exception for the Bulls' volleyball team.
USF (13-11, 5-6 BIG EAST) found itself on the short side of
a four-set match at DePaul, dropping the final three sets after winning the first, 21-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-22.
DePaul (8-15, 3-7) rebounded from an .094 hitting percentage
in the first set to knock out 20 kills while hitting .452 in the second, and
out-hit USF .400-.148 in the third to take control of an offensive-minded
match.
Neither team topped 50 digs as the Bulls and Blue Demons hit
an identical .291 and finished with eight team blocks apiece.
Never trailing in set one and grabbing an early lead in the
second, USF seemed to be in control until midway through the second set. DePaul
took its first lead at 19-18, and scored six of the last seven points to swing
the momentum in its favor heading into the break.
The Blue Demons wouldn't trail for the rest of the match,
building a 14-6 lead in the third, and holding at least a one-point lead
throughout the fourth.
Down 22-16 in the fourth set, USF rattled off six kills in
seven points to pull to within one at 23-22, but couldn't force a fifth set
against the Blue Demons on the road.
Junior Kayla Walton knocked down 17 kills, and freshman
Ciara Brown added nine kills while hitting .529 for the Bulls. Freshman Erin
Fairs posted her seventh double-double in the last nine matches, notching 11
kills and 11 digs, while senior Claudia Cabrera led USF's defensive efforts
with 16 digs.
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