PHILADELPHIA – The University of South Florida volleyball team (9-19, 6-10 AAC) suffered a 3-0 setback (14-25, 20-25, 23-25) at Temple (20-8, 11-5 AAC) on Sunday afternoon. Senior defensive specialist / libero Wylie Devlin led the Bulls with 18 digs in the contest. 

“Temple is a great team,” said USF head volleyball coach Courtney Draper. “We didn't put enough pressure on them and that allowed them to stay in system too often. Their offense was firing on all cylinders and they were too tough to slow down today.”

Temple began the opening set on a 6-1 run and the Owls never trailed in the 25-14 first set victory.

USF used a feverish rally in the second set to even up the match at 14 on a kill from junior outside hitter Denise Belcher. Temple answered the comeback by inching ahead late for the 25-20 set two win.

Facing a sweep, the Bulls took an early 9-5 lead in the third set. The back and forth set featured five ties and two lead changes before the Owls secured the match with a 25-23 narrow decision in the final set.

Sophomore setter Alex Mendoza (17) and senior setter Natalie Soares (12) both recorded double digit assists.

The Bulls are back home to host Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 20. That match will be held at The Corral and begin at 7:00 p.m.

-GoUSFBulls.com-