By: Nolan Krause
Special to GoUSFBulls.com

TAMPA - A strong start wasn't enough to fuel the University of South Florida past one of its toughest Big East opponents in Louisville Friday night, in front of a packed crowd at the Corral.

USF (9-7 overall, 1-2 BIG EAST) was just two points away from taking its match up with the 17th-ranked Cardinals to a fifth and final set. The Bulls fell to Louisville (13-2, 2-1) in a four sets, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23.

The Bulls were led on offense by freshman outside Erin Fairs, who tied a career high with 17 kills and was second on the team with a career-high 15 digs.

“She just had a really consistent night for us,” head coach Courtney Draper said. “If she can continue to do that throughout conference play, I think that we will be very successful.”

The Bulls looked confident in their first set as they excelled in their defensive coverage to jump out to a 16-10 lead. That did not bother the Cardinals as they quickly went on a five-point run to bring the match to within a point.

Momentum was back on the Bulls side after a long rally was ended by one fierce swing from junior Andrea Rodriguez Gomez, helping the Bulls take the first set 25-20.

“We stuck to our game plan,” Fairs said. “We were very disciplined.”

It was back and forth as the teams came out exchanging points in the second set. Neither team led by more than two points until the Cardinals scored six unanswered points to convert a close 19-18 game to a 25-18 victory for the Cardinals.

The Bulls struggled in the third set after letting the Cardinals go on a six-point run, giving them a 15-8 lead the Bulls never recovered from. Louisville went on to win the set, 25-20.

The task of covering proved to a bit more difficult in what would be the final set of the game. After trailing for the majority of the fourth set the Bulls fought back to tie the Cardinals at 23 but could not score again, losing the set 25-23.

The Bulls only have a day off to bounce back, and return to the court to face another Big East opponent in Cincinnati at the Corral Sunday at 1 p.m.