Volleyball closes home slate against Temple on Sunday
MATCHUP: USF vs. Temple | Sunday, Nov. 21 | 1 p.m.
VENUE: The Corral | Tampa, Fla.
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WATCH: ESPN+
TAMPA (November 20, 2021) – The University of South Florida volleyball team (7-21, 1-16 AAC) looks to conclude its 2021 home slate with back-to-back wins inside The Corral when the Bulls host Temple University (5-23, 1-16 AAC) on Sunday. Opening serve is slated for 1 p.m. in Tampa.
The Bulls broke through for their first AAC win of the season last Saturday with a 3-1 triumph over Memphis. Last time out, USF fell in straight sets at UCF in its final War On I-4 battle of the season.
In the last meeting with Temple, South Florida was upended in five sets after leading on the road 2-0 before the Owls stormed back. Marta Cvitkovic floored 23 kills last time against Temple – one of her four matches this season with at least 20 kills.
Cvitkovic was named to the AAC Honor Roll for the second time this season to begin the week. She has recorded seven double-doubles this season and leads the team with 341 kills. Cvitkovic ranks seventh in the AAC in kills/set (3.22). She also leads the league in aces/set (0.42) and has a team-leading 45 aces at the service line.
A quartet of true freshman are next on the team in total kills: Tizi Puljiz (222), Amanda DeWitt (180), Amiree Hendricks-Walker (147) and Ragan Kinard (142). Kinard floored a career-best 17 kills without a single attacking error last Saturday in USF's win over Memphis.
Kelsey O'Loughlin has a team-high 608 assists as the Bulls have deployed a trio at the position this season, including Madison Bragan and Eke Denessen. O'Loughlin matched a season high with 52 assists in the win over Memphis.
CC Clausen leads the way with 374 digs which brings her career total to 1,596 (second all-time in program history). Alexis Williams has started at libero over the past few matches and has 262 digs, including a career-best 22 last week against SMU.
At the net, Henricks-Walker has a team-best 91 blocks, followed by Puljiz (75) and Ally Barnhart (70).
South Florida ranks fourth in the American in blocks/set (2.08).
Up Next
The Bulls conclude the season on the road next week with matches at Houston (Nov. 24) and Tulane (Nov. 26).
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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