TAMPA - Eleven underclassmen make up the majority of the USF volleyball team's 14-player roster, complete with four sophomores and seven freshmen. A few positions might feature a learning curve for the Bulls early in the year as first-time starters gain experience, but USF's middle blockers won't be in that group.

The Bulls went out and got some help this offseason for their lone senior in Andrea Rodriguez Gomez, bringing in junior transfers Jennica Mullins and Carissa Whalen to help shoulder the leadership role. All three play the middle blocker position (Whalen also an option on the right side), making the middle USF's most experienced spot on the court in 2013.

Needing just seven block assists to climb into fifth place on USF's career block assists list, Rodriguez Gomez is expected to start for Draper again this season. The senior's 353 total blocks are just a part of what she has done well at USF, steadily improving her passing, serving and attacking each season.

“Andrea has improved each year with USF, and I think she wants to see this team go the distance more than anyone this year,” head coach Courtney Draper said. “Fans love Andrea because of the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the court, but as you get inside our program, you realize she does so much more for our team.”

Rodriguez Gomez is coming off her best year as a Bull, setting new season highs in kills, hitting percentage and service aces, while averaging 1.07 blocks per set.

Adding to USF's threat up the middle will be Mullins, a transfer out of Winthrop University. Mullins joined the Bulls during the spring semester, giving the junior a chance to practice with the team and get used to a new system – one she'll be captaining on the court this fall.

“Jennica is a great leader. She's all-in, all of the time, and that's why she's our captain,” Draper said. “Even though she hasn't been here that long, she's already made such an impression on our younger players. On top of that, she plays the game very physically, and we expect her to do big things for us this year.”

Mullins posted 1.31 blocks per set last season at Winthrop, leading her team in blocks as well as kills. Touching over 10 feet, Mullins has adjusted well to the Bulls' up-tempo offense, and has been a reliable option in the middle throughout preseason for the setters.

Also making an impression this preseason is Whalen, joining the Bulls this summer after transferring from North Dakota State and immediately competing for playing time as a redshirt junior. Whalen has shown an ability to quickly close out on blocks, and has a variety of attacking options to go with three years of collegiate experience.

“Carissa's as good in the middle as she is on the right side,” Draper said. “She can do a lot of things for us, and adds experience to the team on top of that. We'll probably use her on the right side this year, but she is very good at either spot for us.”

Redshirt freshman Kayla Bivins is also splitting time between the middle and right side, entering preseason with an explosive vertical and heavy shot. Like Whalen, Bivins is projected to see more time on the right side this season than in the middle, but has taken strong swings from both positions in the past few weeks.

“Her strength is her offense, and she has the ability to hit over the block or around it,” Draper said. “She also puts up a big block, and that will only get better as she gets more college experience.”

The only true freshman in the mix is Rachyl Thomsen, who will add good depth to the position with a strong defensive set of skills.

“Rachyl puts up a great one-on-one block, and is another player who can play multiple positions for us,” Draper said.

Thomsen can play right side as well, but is taking plenty of reps in the middle at practice to continue to develop her blocking range, which Draper said will come with experience.

Between the three upperclassmen and the talents of Bivins and Thomsen, Draper will have plenty of options in the middle this season.

Check out the middle blockers, and the rest of the Bulls as they open the season against Miami on Friday, August 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available now for the entire season, HERE.