TAMPA, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 – The USF volleyball team battled against UCF in a five-set heartbreaker, falling 3-2 in front of over 800 fans at the Corral on Friday night in the War on I-4 (25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 10-15).

The Bulls (10-3, 0-1 The American) were led by Jac'cara Walker (Gainesville, Fla.), with 21 kills on 50 swings (.340) on the night, leading four attackers with kills in double figures. Walker tallied a double-double with 10 digs on the night. Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) had 12 kills on the night on 29 attempts (.345), adding two service aces and four blocks to her line. Jaeden Brown (Hollywood, Fla.) and Reagan Davey (Ocala, Fla.) each added 10 kill, rounding out the four Bulls in double figures.

Walker began her first American Athletic Conference match with a flurry, tallying six kills in the opening set. After dropping the second, Walker had six more kills in the third set, while Brown had four and USF took it 25-18.

Trailing for much of the fourth set, the Bulls found themselves down 16-10, but were able to slowly fight back, tying the set at 22-22. UCF was able to regained control and took the fourth set, 25-23, before eventually winning in the fifth.  

Coach Draper on tonight's battle inside the Corral and one of the best home crowds we've had in quite some time. pic.twitter.com/gskZZapEX2

— USF Volleyball (@usfvolleyball) September 22, 2018

Notables

• USF outhit the Knights, .229 - .210.
• Brown led the match with six blocks and has 61 this year.

Key Stats
7 – Walker picked up her seventh double-double of the season with 21 kills and 10 digs.   
8 – Stowell added her eighth double-double of the year with 28 assists and 15 digs.
4 – Four Bulls were in double-figure kills. Walker led the way with 21 kills, while Payne added 12, and Brown and Davey each had 10.

Up Next
The Bulls head to Jacksonville for the final nonconference match of the season, as North Florida awaits for a Sunday noon first serve.   

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.