WICHITA, KS., October 11, 2024 – For the first time in program history, the University of South Florida volleyball team (9-7, 4-0 AAC) defeated the Wichita State Shockers (8-9, 3-2 AAC) to remain undefeated in conference action on Friday night.
The Bulls won with scores of 25-13, 22-25, 25-18, 27-25.
South Florida and Wichita State first played against each other in 2005, but then didn't see each other again until 2017, when both teams were in the American. Wichita State has swept South Florida in all matchups except in 2018 when the Bulls took one set.
Naiya Sawtelle led the Bulls with 20 kills, her third straight double-digit kill performance. Maia Clara Andrade followed with 19 kills to stretch her 10+ kill streak to 10 matches. She also finished with 20 digs for her third double-double of the season.
Caroline Dykes dished out 54 assists, six away from tying her career high. She also led with two service aces.
Along with Andrade's 20 digs,
Lia Schneider and
Samiha Foster had 10+ digs. Schneider had 17, while Foster had 14.
South Florida looked to continue its historic start against the Shockers. The Bulls quickly took a dominant 13-4 lead to force a Shockers timeout. South Florida showed no signs of slowing down, growing its lead to 22-10. The Shockers would score three more points before the Bulls closed the opening set in dominant fashion.
Wichita State settled into the match, sticking with South Florida. Both teams traded points, tying nine times, with the last at 19. The Shockers closed out the set with a 6-3 run to tie the match at one set.
The third set continued to be a battle. The Bulls held a four-point lead going into the media timeout. South Florida and Wichita State continued to trade points, but a kill and a solo block from
Imani Hartfield forced the Shockers to take a timeout. The Bulls closed out the set with a 5-1 run.
The Bulls showed no signs of slowing down, taking the 15-11 lead to force a media timeout. South Florida had a 21-16 lead over Wichita State, but the Shockers went on a 6-1 run to close the Bulls lead to 23-22. With the match on the line,
Lia Schneider served her 15
th ace of the season to give South Florida its first win over Wichita State in program history.
NOTABLES
- This is the first win over Wichita State in program history.
- Andrade stretches her double-digit kill streak to 10 matches.
- She finished the night with 19 kills and 20 digs for her third double-double this season and the 23rd of her career.
- Sawtelle has recorded 10+ kills in the last three matches. She led the match tonight with 20.
UP NEXT
South Florida will head to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Sunday afternoon. The first serve is set for 2 p.m.
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2024. 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. Earning the AAC East Division title in 2023, South Florida made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, winning three games and advancing to the Fab Four to mark the longest postseason run in program history. South Florida 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), located 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 –
