QUEENS, N.Y., December 1, 2023 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (20-11, 13-6 AAC) defeated the Buffalo Bulls (23-9, 13-5 MAC) in straight sets to move onto the second round of the NIVC. The win marked the first NIVC win for the program since 1994.
 
The Bulls won with scores of 25-23, 25-19, 25-14.
 
Buse Hazan (Istanbul, Turkey) led the Bulls with 10 kills. Hazan, Miya Thomas (Gainesville), and Marta Cvitkovic (Rijeka, Croatia) led the team with two service aces each. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) dished out 27 assists.
 
South Florida and Buffalo opened the match with an intense first set. Both teams stayed within reach of each other throughout the set, the largest lead being three late in the set. South Florida was the first team to reach 20 with an error by Buffalo. Niki Khoshatefeh (Temecula, Calif.) gave the Green and Gold the first set with her fourth kill.  
 
Both squads carried the momentum into the second set. South Florida grew its lead to 18-13 after a 5-0 run, the longest of the match so far. The Green and Gold cruised through the rest of the set, taking the two-set lead in the match.
 
With the win in sight, South Florida came into the final set ready to end the match. The Green and Gold went on a 7-1 run to take a late 20-11 lead. Buffalo would score three more points before South Florida closed the match with four straight points.
 
NOTABLES

• South Florida finished with a .329 hitting percentage led by Khoshatefeh's .700 clip (seven kills, no errors). Maria Clara Andrade was second to Hazan with nine kills.
• South Florida forced 19 Buffalo errors while committing only nine.
• Thomas led with 11 digs.
• Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) led with four block assists.

 
UP NEXT
The Bulls will play the winner of the St. John's/Howard match tomorrow at 5 p.m.
 
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her fourth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2023. 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. 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.