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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 5, 2014 – USF fans attending Friday's home opener were treated to a five-set thriller and the Bulls didn't disappoint.
Erin Fairs provided the go-ahead kill and freshmen Brittany Kelly and Joli Holland teamed up for a clutch block in the fifth set to put away a 25-23, 18-25, 25-12, 29-31, 16-14 victory over Buffalo before a crowd of 615 at The Corral in the opening match of the USF Invitational.
Fairs, the 2013 American Player of the Year, posted her second double-double of the season with 20 kills and 25 digs to help the Bulls secure their first victory of the season.
“That's a big double-double. Usually double-doubles are in the teens, but she was in the 20's in both categories,” head coach Courtney Draper said. “She's putting up some great numbers for us and she's just playing a solid, all-around game.”
Sophomore outside hitter Dakota Hampton also had a monster match while registering her sixth double-double as a Bull with 16 kills and 20 digs. The Orland Park, Ill., native led all players with three of USF's seven service aces.
“She did a great job for us today, especially under pressure,” Draper said. “We put her in a lot of positions under pressure where she had to make a great play and she did every time.”
USF (1-3) finished with 11 team blocks and got a lot of production in the middle. Senior middle blocker Jennica Mullins collected 10 kills after posting eight in the third set and Kelly finished with nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
“Ideally if we're passing the ball well our middles are going to get a lot of swings and we'll be really successful,” Draper said.
Buffalo (2-3) was led by Tahleia Bishop's match-high 22 kills and 13 digs, while Megan Lipski finished with 19 kills and 14 digs.
USF grabbed its first lead of the match with a strong showing in the third set. Buffalo managed a .023 hitting percentage while the Bulls sided out at 75 percent. Draper's squad sided out at 71 percent in the fifth set and the Bulls limited Buffalo to a .067 hitting percent.
“When we're siding out in the 70th percentile we're going to do really well,” Draper said. “It was really about the side-out game.”
The Bulls' USF Invitational run continues 7 p.m. Friday with a test against Florida International back at The Corral. Purchase tickets for the match and USF's meeting with South Carolina State 11 a.m. Sunday HERE.
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