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TAMPA, AUG. 28, 2015 – Sixteen Bulls saw action on opening night as the USF volleyball team showed off their strengths en route to a sweep over Alabama A&M in the first match of the Panther Challenge, 25-13, 25-9, 25-16.

Nine different players contributed kills, including four newcomers as the Bulls outhit the Bulldogs .307-.039, cruising to the first win of the season.

USF looked sharp offensively, committing just eight hitting errors in the match, seven of them coming on blocks. The Bulls collected seven blocks of their own, and added eight service aces to roll past Alabama A&M.

Junior Alexus Heidelberg (Winter Garden) got the Bulls off to a hot start in the first set, rolling out five of her six kills to help USF to an early 25-13 win.

Heidelberg used an aggressive serve in the second set, serving up three aces in four points during a 9-0 USF run midway through the set. Alabama A&M broke the run with a block, but sophomore middle blocker Joli Holland (Dublin, Calif.) handled the rest, collecting five kills on just seven swings to send USF to an overwhelming 25-9 second-set win.

Juinor transfer Elyse Panick (Chicago, Ill.) did a little bit of everything in the final set, racking up four kills, three blocks, five digs and a service ace as the Bulls finished off their first opponent of the season, 25-16.

Panick tied junior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.) for the team lead in kills, with eight, and led the team with four blocks. Holland and Heidelberg contributed six kills apiece, Holland posting a team-best .500 hitting percentage.

Senior libero Wylie Devlin (Winter Park) notched 13 digs, besting Hampton (12) by one, while freshman setter Molly Burkhardt had a good collegiate debut, dishing out 10 assists.

The Bulls return to action Saturday morning, facing North Florida at 10 a.m. in FIU Arena before playing host FIU later that day, at 6 p.m.