Volleyball’s War On I-4 moves to the Yuengling Center on Wednesday
MATCHUP: USF vs. UCF
SCHEDULE: Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
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TAMPA (October 12, 2021) – The University of South Florida Bulls (6-11, 0-6 AAC) conclude a three-match homestand on Wednesday night with a War On I-4 matchup against UCF (12-6, 5-1 AAC). Opening serve is slated for 7 p.m. in the Yuengling Center.
Wednesday's super-sized War On I-4 matchup has been moved from the Bulls' regular home venue (The Corral) into the Yuengling Center.
Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia), a unanimous 2021 Preseason All-Conference selection, leads the Bulls and ranks seventh in the AAC in kills/set (3.10) this season. Cvitkovic has tallied 195 kills, including two matches with 20 this year (five in her career).
True freshman Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) ranks second on the team with 122 kills followed closely by fellow rookie Amanda DeWitt (Jupiter) with 120.
Eke Denessen (Venlo, Netherlands) and Kelsey O'Loughlin (Fort Lauderdale) have split setter duties this season and have each dished out over 200 assists to the offense.
Cvitkovic and Alexis Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) each have dropped 23 service aces on the season to lead the team and rank sixth in the AAC in aces/set (0.37). The Bulls collectively rank fourth in the conference with 1.57 aces/set.
True freshman Amiree Hendricks-Walker (Los Angeles, Calif.) has totaled 59 blocks this season. Puljiz and Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Kan.) have each stuffed 45 at the net. USF ranks fourth in the league in team blocks/set (2.30).
CC Clausen (The Woodlands, Texas) has a team-best 251 digs and sixth in the AAC in digs/set (3.98). The libero recently took over sole possession of second place all-time for career digs in program history (1,473).
Scouting UCF
The Knights are the three-time defending AAC Champions. UCF enters play in a three-way tie atop the conference standings with Cincinnati and Houston. Houston snapped UCF's seven-match winning streak last Friday, but the Knights closed the weekend with a 3-1 win over Tulane.
UCF leads the AAC in team hitting percentage (.249) and blocks/set (2.61). The Knights' 182.5 total blocks rank seventh nationally. UCF also ranks 15th in the country with 128 service aces.
McKenna Melville leads the AAC and ranks 11th nationally in kills/set (4.61). Nerissa Moravec leads the league in blocks/set (1.37) and is 23rd in the NCAA in total blocks (82). Four Knights have recorded at least 20 aces, led by Melville with 24.
Up Next
The Bulls open a three-match road swing on Friday, October 15 at Temple. nesday, October 13 at 7 p.m.
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her second season at the helm of her alma mater in 2021-22. Named head coach on Jan. 8, 2020, Shepardson led the Bulls' program to its last conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002. USF made its last postseason appearance in 2018, posting 20 wins and appearing in the NIVC. USF Volleyball has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 12 conference titles since its inception in 1972 and is entering its 50th campaign in 2021-22. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus.
Be sure to follow USF women's volleyball on social media (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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