Volleyball travels to Temple on Friday
MATCHUP: USF at Temple
SCHEDULE: Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW: Live Stats
WATCH: ESPN+
TAMPA (October 14, 2021) – The University of South Florida Bulls (6-12, 0-7 AAC) begin a three-match road stretch on Friday, October 15 at Temple University (4-13, 0-6 AAC). Opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Both the Bulls and Owls are seeking their first American victory of the season.
USF ranks fourth in the AAC in blocks/set (2.29) and aces/set (1.52). The Bulls will look to exploit a Temple defense that ranks last in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.252).
Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia), a unanimous 2021 Preseason All-Conference selection, leads the Bulls and ranks seventh in the AAC in kills/set (3.06) this season. Cvitkovic has tallied 202 kills, including two matches with 20 this year (five in her career). She floored 23 kills vs. Temple in a match last season.
True freshman Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) ranks second on the team with 128 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. O'Loughling leads the way with 322 assists.
Cvitkovic has a team-best 24 aces while Alexis Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) has dropped 23 on the year. Both players rank inside the top eight in the league in aces/set individually.
True freshman Amiree Hendricks-Walker (Los Angeles, Calif.) has totaled 62 blocks this season. Puljiz and Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Kan.) have each stuffed 47 at the net.
CC Clausen (The Woodlands, Texas) has a team-best 262 digs and ranks sixth in the AAC in digs/set (3.97). The libero recently took over sole possession of second place all-time for career digs in program history and enters Friday's match with 1,484.
Scouting Temple
The Owls have dropped seven straight matches entering Friday's tilt with the Bulls. USF leads the all-time series, 15-7. The teams split their matches last season in Tampa with a 3-2 win for the Bulls and a 3-1 win for the Owls.
Temple's offense is led by Gem Grimshaw with 215 kills which rank fourth in the AAC in kills/set (3.47). Miray Bolukbasi has floored 174 kills and ranks eighth in the league (3.06).
Taylor Davenport has stuffed 71 blocks on the year and ranks second in the conference in blocks/set (1.18). Falanika Danielson leads the back row defense with a team-best 272 digs which rank fifth in the league in digs/set (4.18).
Up Next
The Bulls head back out on the road next weekend for matches at Memphis (Oct. 22) and SMU (Oct. 24) before returning home to close the month of October at The Corral.
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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