Bulls Fall at No. 21 Knights In Regular Season Finale
ORLANDO, NOVEMBER 21, 2018 – The USF volleyball team game their rivals a fight, but couldn't spoil UCF's 24-match win streak, falling in three sets Wednesday night (21-25, 15-25, 20-25).
The Bulls (20-11, 9-9 The American) got six kills from junior
Jac'cara Walker (Gainesville, Fla.) in the first set. Trailing 15-14, the Knights (27-3, 18-0 The American) used a 4-0 run to take a slim edge that it wouldn't relinquish, winning 25-21.
The hosts opened the second set leading 9-2 before the Bulls closed the gap at 12-8. A 5-0 run gave UCF control, leading to a 2-0 lead. USF opened the third set on fire, leading 7-2 early on. Tied 11-11, the Knights put together a 9-3 run to create some separation. A Walker kill and a
CC Clausen (The Woodlands, Texas) ace brought USF within two, 22-20, but UCF was able to score the next three points.
Notables
- Walker had a match high 15 kills and 11 digs.
- Redshirt senior Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) had six kills and four blocks
- Freshman setter Lauren LaBeck (Chicago) had 17 assists.
- Clausen recorded 16 digs and senior Briana Stowell (Orlando) had 11 digs with 15 assists.
Key Stats
20 – Most wins for the bulls since 2002.
14 – Double-doubles for Walker this season
Quotabels
Head coach Courtney Draper on the season finale:
"I thought we were very good offensively in the first set, but our defense struggles. Then our defense picked up in the second and third sets, but our offense struggled. We never could seem to put the two together. Obviously UCF is a great team and they have had a story book season, but it was unfortunate that we didn't give them a tougher match to close out conference play."
Head coach Courtney Draper on the possibility of postseason play with the NIVC field being selected on Sunday:
"Overall it was a great season and we are hoping that it's not over yet. We will hear Sunday if we get an invitation to the NIVC. Any opportunity to play in the postseason would be special. It's important for our players to experience competing in December. The NCAA Tournament is always our top goal, but with so many returners coming back next year, it would be wonderful to get a taste of that success."
Up Next
The Bulls will await an invitation to the NIVC. Following the NCAA selection show this Sunday, the 32-40 team NIVC will be determined, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 29-30.
About USF Volleyball
Now in her seventh season with the Bulls, head coach Courtney Draper has her team at 19-9, just one win shy what would be the most in her time at USF. Redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne became the seventh player in program history to reach 400 career blocks earlier this season. Sophomore Jaeden Brown is second in The American in total blocks and leads USF with a hitting percentage above .300. Junior transfer Jac'cara Walker has led USF in kills all season long and recorded her 1000th career kill earlier in the year.
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