Bulls host SMU & Memphis on Alumni Weekend
MATCHUP: USF vs. SMU & Memphis
SCHEDULE: Thursday, Nov. 11 vs. SMU (5 p.m.), Saturday, Nov. 13 vs. Memphis (1 p.m.)
FOLLOW: Live Stats
WATCH: ESPN+
RADIO: iHeart Radio Bulls Unlimited (2) - Saturday ONLY
TAMPA (November 4, 2021) – The University of South Florida Bulls return home to The Corral for a pair of matches on Alumni Weekend. The Bulls (6-19, 0-14 AAC) take on SMU (13-11, 9-5 AAC) Thursday at 5 p.m. and conclude the weekend against Memphis (12-14, 5-9 AAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Alumni expected to be in attendance over the homestand include: Janice Rivera, Jessica Quackenbush, Michelle Newton, Nye Musemuna, Amy Van Sant, Claire Embry, Alex Mendoza, Allison Boaz, Eboni Harris, Lori McCaughey, Melanie Korte, Shelbey Mastronardo, Erika Bragan, Pam Coffin, Ale Domingos, Bonnye McCoy, Briana Stowell, Cristina Germond, Ashley Reavis, Christine Knoechel, Mariana Thon, Claire Lessinger, Dakota Hampton, Faith Tarver and Michelle Collier.
Collier, whose jersey number hangs in the rafters inside The Corral, is USF's all-time leader in career digs with 1,747. Current Bulls' libero CC Clausen is chasing her mark and enters play Thursday with 1,569 career digs. Clausen ranks 10th in the AAC this season in digs/set (3.65).
Marta Cvitkovic continues to lead the offense with 291 kills and ranks ninth in the league in kills/set (3.06). She has recorded five double-doubles this season in kills/digs.
True freshmen Tizi Puljiz (191) and Amanda DeWitt (167) rank second and third, respectively, on the team in kills. Fellow rookie Amiree Hendricks-Walker has tallied 136 kills and has a team-best 83 blocks. Allly Barnhart (70) and Puljiz (67) are second and third in blocks.
The Bulls rank fourth in the AAC in blocks/set (2.12) and are third at the service line with 1.54 aces/set.
Scouting SMU
The Mustangs won the first matchup of the season in Dallas, 3-1. SMU has won four of its last five matches since that meeting. The Mustangs are 5-4 on the road this season.
SMU ranks third in the league in hitting percentage (.232) but is 10th in opponent hitting percentage (.230). The Mustangs hit .336 against USF last time out while the Bulls recorded a .233 clip.
Hannah Jacobs leads the offense with 273 kills and ranks 10th in the AAC in kills/set (3.03). Kaylyn Winkler is third in the conference in hitting percentage (.371). Rachel Woulfe (264) and Jadyn Bauss (200) are second and third on the team in kills. Bria Merchant patrols the back row and ranks sixth in the league in digs/set (3.80).
Scouting Memphis
The Tigers outlasted the Bulls at home a few weeks ago by set scores of 25-22, 25-23, 16-25, 21-25, 16-14. The loss is one of four by USF in five sets during AAC play.
USF owned a .214 hitting percentage compared to a .169 clip by Memphis in that match. The Bulls also had a 10-9 advantage in blocks, but the Tigers held a 54-41 lead in digs.
Three Tigers have recorded over 200 kills on the year led by Miaya Smith (265). She also ranks 11th in the AAC with a .302 attacking percentage. Sabrina Bianco ranks second in the league in assists/set (10.04) and Bailey Houlihan is third in digs/set (4.54).
Up Next
The Bulls have just four matches remaining in the regular season, including three on the road. First up is a War On I-4 showdown with UCF on Wednesday, November 17 in Orlando.
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.
- #GoBulls –
