TAMPA, OCT. 8, 2014 – The University of South Florida volleyball team put a big scare into a UCF team which hadn't lost a conference match to date Wednesday, nearly forcing a fifth set at home against the Knights in front of a packed house in The Corral.

The Bulls (8-9 overall, 2-3 The American) jumped out to a big lead in the fourth set against UCF (12-5, 5-0), and had a pair of chances at set-point, but couldn't complete the comeback as the Knights outhit USF .259-.216 in a four-set win, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, 26-24.

USF served tough against the Knights, recording six aces – three from sophomore libero Amy Van Sant – but UCF edged the Bulls in blocks, and posted 23 more digs than USF to slow down the Bulls' offense.

Coming out strong defensively, the Bulls held UCF's potent offense in check in the first set, forcing 12 hitting errors and getting three early kills and five digs from sophomore Dakota Hampton to pick up a decisive first-set win, 25-19.

UCF's offense took control in the second and third sets, hitting .349 through those two sets to secure a 2-1 match lead, but late in the third, junior outside hitter Erin Fairs came alive. Fairs posted three kills on five swings in the third, and carried the momentum over into the fourth.

Fairs knocked out six more kills in the fourth set, helping USF grab an 18-11 lead. Senior right side hitter Bree Scarbrough added six kills in just 11 swings over the final two sets as the Bulls held their lead at 21-15.

But UCF used seven kills and a block in the final 14 points of the set to overtake USF's lead, ending the match in four with a 26-24 win in the fourth. In the loss, Fairs finished just three kills shy of 1,000 for her career, contributing 14 kills and 10 digs. Freshman middle blocker Brittany Kelly continued to play well for the Bulls, notching eight kills and four blocks, hitting .500. Van Sant added a team-high 11 digs to her three service aces.

USF hits the road next for a Friday match at East Carolina University. Follow all the action Friday on twitter, with @USFVolleyball.