Walton, Bulls Sweep Away Wildcats

Women's Volleyball USF

Walton, Bulls Sweep Away Wildcats

One thing can certainly be said about the University of South Florida volleyball team - it is certainly a versitile one.

The Bulls (6-5 overall) used all 14 available players Saturday night and did so efficiently, sweeping past Bethune-Cookman, 25-16, 25-18, 25-18 to extend their winning streak to four matches.

"We tried a lot of different things tonight, which is important to do at this point in the season," head coach Courtney Draper said. "I like the versitility we have on this team, and I think we displayed that tonight."

USF had 13 different players collect digs, nine record kills, and six pick up assists to pitch in as the Bulls held the Wildcats to a .000 hitting percentage, out-digging Bethune-Cookman 55-49 with another strong defensive effort.

"If I had to choose a strength within our team, I would say that it's our defense," Draper said. "They've really bought into the system we are running. We've told our blockers it doesn't necessarily need to be a block-kill to be successful. Sometimes we just want to channel the attack to our best digger, which usually converts to a kill. Defensively, we're in a good position, we just need to take care of the offensive piece now."

Juniors Kayla Walton and Andrea Rodriguez Gomez had no trouble offensively, teaming up for 12 kills in just 21 attacks to hit a combined .476. Walton and Rodriguez Gomez were two of just four players to record at least five kills, as the Bulls spread the offense around even further than usual.

"It was exciting to have everyone out there contributing tonight," Walton said. "I think our team chemistry is one where everyone was comfortable no matter where they were playing. It was really fluid tonight."

Senior outside hitter J'beria Davis led the team with eight kills, Walton had seven and senior middle blocker Caitlyn Breen added six. Freshman Midori Harrison made her USF debut, appearing in all three sets and recording her first collegiate kill. Harrison added four digs.

Freshman setter Wylie Devlin led the team in digs (11) and assists (19), while sophomore Casey Albano grabbed ten digs in two sets as the Bulls' libero.

USF will try to extend its streak to five Sunday at 1 p.m. against FIU, as the Bulls try to close out their second consecutive tournament championship against the Panthers.
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Players Mentioned

Casey Albano

#16 Casey Albano

DS
5' 5"
Sophomore
Caitlyn Breen

#2 Caitlyn Breen

MB
6' 2"
Senior
Wylie Devlin

#8 Wylie Devlin

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Midori Harrison

#12 Midori Harrison

OH
5' 10"
Freshman
Andrea Rodriguez Gomez

#1 Andrea Rodriguez Gomez

MB
6' 0"
Junior
Kayla Walton

#11 Kayla Walton

RS
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Casey Albano

#16 Casey Albano

5' 5"
Sophomore
DS
Caitlyn Breen

#2 Caitlyn Breen

6' 2"
Senior
MB
Wylie Devlin

#8 Wylie Devlin

5' 7"
Freshman
S
Midori Harrison

#12 Midori Harrison

5' 10"
Freshman
OH
Andrea Rodriguez Gomez

#1 Andrea Rodriguez Gomez

6' 0"
Junior
MB
Kayla Walton

#11 Kayla Walton

6' 3"
Junior
RS