CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 26, 2016 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (1-0) utilized a double-double of 12 digs and 10 kills from senior Elyse Panick (Chicago, Ill.) to fuel a 3-0 sweep (25-19,25-19,25-12) of the Campbell Camels (1-1) in the Charlotte Invitational on Friday night.

“It was a great way to start the season, our girls showed great teamwork,” said USF head volleyball coach Courtney Draper. “We hustled on defense and for the first match of the year, I thought our offense was pretty solid.”

Trailing 12-9 in the opening set, the Bulls rallied to score nine of the next 10 points, most of which occurred while Panick was serving. The right side hitter tallied three aces in the stretch as USF claimed the opening set 25-19.

“Elyse was impressive both offensively and defensively,” added Draper.

Up one set to none, USF found themselves in a 13-8 deficit in set two, but once again, the Bulls responded with a 9-2 spurt to pull away for the two set edge.  

“The girls on the court had really good chemistry and stayed calm throughout the match,” added Panick.

The third set was all USF, going ahead 8-3 early on and never looking back in the 25-12 final set.

"It was really a good team win," said junior setter Alex Mendoza. "Even when we trailed in sets, we stayed together and fought harder as a team. Our teamwork really brought us home the win tonight."

Key Stat:

·         USF notched a .272 hitting percentage, compared to a .035 hitting percentage for Campbell.

Notables:

·         This is the second consecutive season where the Bulls have won their season opener.

·         Senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.) notched 10 kills.

·         Junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) tallied 28 assists.

·         Senior libero Amy Van Sant (Atlanta, Ga.) recorded 15 digs.

·         Panick also had a team-high three service aces as well.

·         The Bulls forced the Camels to have a -.111 attack percentage in the last set.

Up Next:

The Bulls continue play in the Charlotte Invitational with a match against Mercer on Saturday at noon. USF will also battle the host Charlotte 49ers in the finale on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Both matches take place at Halton Arena.

 

About USF Volleyball

The USF volleyball program has reached the NCAA Tournament seven times and boasts seven conference championships. In 2016, the Bulls will return 10 players from last season including their top eight point scorers from a year ago. USF also brings back senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.), who was named to the 2016 American Athletic Conference preseason team. The Bulls are guided by fifth year head coach Courtney Draper. Follow the volleyball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.  

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