CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 27, 2016 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (3-0) are the 2016 Charlotte Invitational Champions.
The Bulls swept Charlotte (28-26, 25-13, 25-21) on Saturday night, clinching their first tournament title of the season.
USF was led offensively by senior right side hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago), whose 50 digs, 28 kills and 12 blocks earned her the tournament most valuable player award. Junior middle blocker Joli Holland (Dublin, Calif.) was also selected to the all-tournament team with 24 kills on the weekend and a .385 hitting percentage.
In a seesawing first set, the Bulls were able to tally the final three points for a 28-26 start to the match. Holland piloted USF in the early going with five kills in the opening set.
Up one set to none, USF never trailed in the second set, winning 25-13. Senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.) was one dig shy of a double-double at that junction of the match (13 digs, nine kills).
The Bulls then closed out the match, snapping a 20-20 tie in the third set by taking five of the last six points.
Quotables:
· USF head volleyball coach Courtney Draper: 'I think it was important for our team to start out strong during the opening weekend to set the tone for the season. It's tough to prepare for three teams in two days, but our kids executed well.”
· Dakota Hampton: “This third game was the most exciting match of the tournament. It was because of the energy and crowd that we had in the gym. I'm so proud of my team and the effort we put in all weekend.”
· Joli Holland: “This weekend was special for so many reasons. I was pumped for a great birthday weekend with my teammates, but being able to start off the season undefeated with these girls was just icing on the cake for me.”
· Elyse Panick: “We were able to get our middles involved off of good serve receive which allowed us to side out quickly. Our chemistry continues to get stronger on the court and our bench continues to help with the energy.”
Key Stat:
· USF lost just one set the entire tournament.
Notables:
· The Bulls are 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
· Hampton registered a team-high 18 kills and added another 14 digs.
· Junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) tallied 36 assists in the finale match and 116 assists during the weekend.
· Panick had 17 digs and nine kills versus the 49ers.
Up Next:
The Bulls will host the USF Invitational Sept. 2-3 at The Corral. The Bulls' home opener will be against Western Carolina at 1 p.m. Fans can purchase season, tournament, or single match tickets HERE.
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.
– #GoBulls –
