TAMPA, OCTOBER 28, 2018 – The USF volleyball team won its third-straight match with a four-set victory over Houston Sunday afternoon (25-17, 29-27, 19-25, 25-19).
The Bulls (17-7, 6-5 The American) were powered by junior
Jac'cara Walker (Gainesville, Fla.) and a season high 22 kills with 14 digs. Redshirt senior
Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) recorded eight blocks to lead a USF team that challenged the Cougars at the net (14-12, 1-10 The American) all afternoon.
The Bulls jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the opening set and led by no less than five from there. Walker and Payne combined for 10 kills and eight blocks. The second set was a back-and-forth battle, but six kills from both
Jaeden Brown (Hollywood, Fla.) and
Lindsey Pliapol (Daytona Beach, Fla.) helped lift USF to 2-0 lead.
The Cougars extended the match, taking the third set 25-19. But Walker came back to life in the fourth set, tallying seven kills to give her team the win and 2-0 weekend.
Notables
- Payne finished with eight blocks became the seventh player in program history to reach 400 for a career (401).
- Walker's 22 kills brought her to 304 in a USF uniform this season. Added to the 712 she tallied in her first two collegiate seasons at Marshall and she joins the 1,000 kills club.
- Freshman setter Lauren LaBeck (Chicago) had a season high 46 assists and 13 digs.
- Senior Maria McLamb (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) was all over the place in her second-straight start at libero with 23 digs.
Key Stats
26 – Blocks for USF
54 – Blocks for USF this weekend
5 – The Bulls are now 5-1 on Sundays this season
12 – Double-doubles for Walker on the year
Up Next
The Bulls have a short week to begin November with a match at Temple Thursday at 7 p.m. USF then plays at UConn Saturday, Nov. 5 at noon.
About USF Volleyball
Led by redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne, who paced the team with 300 points and finished seventh in The American with a .290 hitting percentage, USF and seventh-year head coach Courtney Draper are excited for 2018. Senior setter Briana Stowell finished second on the team in 2017 with 243 assists and averaged 22.3 per match in the final month of the year. The Bulls are welcoming six new faces to the roster, with five talented freshmen and a skilled outside hitter coming from Marshall University.
Follow the volleyball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
– #GoBulls –
