TAMPA (November 21, 2021) – Playing at home inside The Corral for the final time this season, the University of South Florida Bulls (7-22, 1-17 AAC) fell in a hard-fought match with the Temple Owls (6-23, 2-16 AAC) in four sets on Sunday.

True freshman Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) registered 11 kills and a team-best 15 digs for her sixth double-double of the season in the loss.

South Florida claimed the opening set, 25-22, before Temple rattle off three straight wins by scores of 25-16, 28-26 and 25-23. Temple rallied for a five-set win over the Bulls in their last meeting.

It was another tough setback for USF who has dropped 13 total sets this year by just two points, including five in extra points.

Puljiz paced the Bulls with four kills in the opening game as the home team took a 1-0 match advantage. Ally Barnhart (Lenexa, Kan.) enter the set late and promptly floored the game-winning kill for USF.

Temple hit a whopping .464 in the second set (zero attacking errors) to knot the match at 1-1 game apiece.

The pivotal third set featured six lead changes and 19 ties atop the scoreboard. Facing set point, Barnhart rose up for a big kill to tie the game at 24-24. Puljiz did the same two points later to even the score at 25-all. A block by Puljiz and Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) tied things up once more at 26-26 before the Owls closed out the set with two straight points to claim a 2-1 match advantage.

In set four, the Bulls trailed 18-11 before going on a seven-point run to once again tie things up and put Temple on the ropes. Barnhart sparked the rally with a kill, and Alexis Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) dropped four service aces on the Owls to knot the score at 18-apieace.

The fourth set continued back-and-forth as a kill by Barnhart followed by a block by Barnhart and Ragan Kinard (Lynn Haven) tied the score at 23-23. Once again, the Owls answered and finished the match with a pair of unanswered points.

Notable

• Cvitkovic matched Puljiz with 11 kills to lead the Bulls.
• Williams matched a career high with four aces.
• Kinard finished with 10 kills and has floored 34 over her last three matches.
• Kelsey O'Loughlin (Fort Lauderdale) dished our 45 assists for USF.
• Temple owned a 15-5 blocking advantage in the win.  

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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