TULSA, Oct. 8, 2017 – The USF volleyball team came back from a 2-1 deficit, outscoring Tulsa 40-29 in the final two sets to pick up a five-set win Sunday afternoon (18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12).  

After dropping the opening set, the Bulls (7-9, 2-4 The American) were in control in the second, leading by as much as six, 13-7. The Golden Hurricane (8-10, 2-4 The American) went on a 5-0 run to make it 13-12. But USF got a pair of kills from Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) and Nikkia Benitez (Miami) as part of a 7-2 run to make it 20-14. Tulsa would again get closer, utilizing a 6-1 run to make it 21-20. The Golden Hurricane eventually tied it at 24-24, before Priscilla Ehieze (Houston) and Payne hammered down kills to win the set, 26-24.
 
The score showed nine stalemates midway through the third set before a 4-0 Tulsa stretch made it 21-17 in favor of the hosts. The Bulls got one back on a kill from Ehieze, but the Golden Hurricane scored the final four points to win the third set 25-18.
 
Much like the second set, USF built up a six-point edge in the fourth set and led 13-7 after freshman Faby Ribas (Orlando) placed just her second kill of the year onto an open spot on the floor. The lead did not dip below three, as the Bulls forced a decisive fifth set, winning the fourth 25-17.
 
Tulsa led 2-1 early in the fifth set, but a 4-0 USF run made it 5-2. The Golden Hurricane got to within one, 8-7, then a Payne kill from the middle gave the Bulls two-straight points to make it 10-7. Tulsa got to within two points five separate times, but could not get closer, as Payne gave USF the win with the sets 15^th point and her 15^th kill.  


 
KEY STATS

• Payne's 15 kills were a career high. She finished with a match-best .394 hitting percentage and also added four block assists.
• Senior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) had a contest-high 53 assists.
• Ehieze and freshman Doris Carter (Lexington, Ky.) each had 14 kills.
• Defensively the Bulls were stout, recording a season-high 99 digs. Junior Maria McLamb (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) had 27 digs, Ribas had 19 and Mendoza had a season-high 18.  
• Freshman middle blocker Jaedan Brown (Hollywood, Fla.) played in each set for the first time this season, tallying a season-high five kills to go along with two total blocks.

 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Courtney Draper on the defensive efforts:
"I'm very proud of the way everyone came out and competed today. Maria and Faby played an outstanding back row game, allowing our offense to have a ton of success. Tulsa plays incredible defense so we really had to work extra hard and earn each kill today."

Head coach Courtney Draper on the contributions from the outside and the middle:
"Clara, Doris and Priscilla were unstoppable today and Jaedan stepped in and played great for us when we needed it most."
 
Head coach Courtney Draper on the commitment to all facets of the game:
"Coming into today, Tulsa was leading the league in digs and we were second, so we knew it was going to be long battle on both ends. Alex was excellent, not only delivering the ball to her teammates on the offensive end, but also on the defensive side as well with her digging."  

UP NEXT
The Bulls return home for a pair of matches during homecoming weekend. USF hosts Temple Friday at 8 p.m. before welcoming UConn Sunday noon.  

About USF Volleyball
In addition to 10 newcomers, USF returns a large core of talent for 2017, led by senior setter Alex Mendoza, who surpassed the 2,000 assist total in 2016 and posted a team-high 1,125 helpers. Redshirt-junior middle blocker Clara Payne finished second on the team with 340 points and senior middle blocker Joli Holland finished fourth with 251.5 points. The Bulls are guided by sixth-year head coach Courtney Draper.
 
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