BROOKLYN, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 – The USF volleyball team put it all together on Saturday morning with its first straight-sets victory of the year, defeating Holy Cross to go a perfect 3-0 at this weekend's Blackbird Invitational, hosted by LIU Brooklyn.

The Bulls (8-1) and Crusaders (1-9) were in a battle in the opening set, as consecutive kills from redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) and junior outside hitter Jac'cara Walker (Gainesville, Fla.) tilted the score to 25-23. USF owned the second set, 25-14, then faced a 8-4 deficit in the third set. The Bulls turned things around and eventually grabbed a 14-8 lead in the set, never looking back.

Walker led the way with 11 kills. Senior setter Briana Stowell (Orlando) had her second double-double of the weekend with 32 assists and 10 digs. She also added three more aces and totaled seven at the tournament.

Quotables

Head coach Courtney Draper talking about the 3-0 weekend:
"I'm really proud of the team effort this weekend. Everyone has a silent confidence about them right now and going 3-0 this weekend feels great. Our opponents continue to challenge us in difference ways, yet this team keeps rising to the occasion."  

Notables

• The 8-1 start to the year is the best for the program since 1996. USF began that season 11-1 before suffering its second loss.   
• Payne led USF with 36 kills in Brooklyn, swinging .357.
• Sophomore middle blocker Jaeden Brown (Hollywood, Fla.) had 31 kills and 20 total blocks at Blackbird Invitational. She recorded seven in each of the final two matches.
• Stowell had 115 assists and 31 digs at the tournament.
• Walker had 28 kills and 23 digs in the three matches.

Key Stats
98 – Head coach Courtney Draper sits at career 98 wins at USF.  
1 – The Bulls are one of just two teams in The American with only one loss. Houston is 9-1, followed by Cincinnati with a 7-2 record.  

Up Next
The Bulls return home for the final tournament of the year, as they host the USF Classic Sept. 14-15. USF will face North Dakota, UNC Charlotte and the University of New Orleans.     

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.
 
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