PHILADELPHIA (October 4, 2024) – The University of South Florida volleyball team needed only three sets to claim a road victory against Temple on Friday night.  Naiya Sawtelle and Maria Clara Andrade both finished with double-digit kills as the Bulls grounded the Owls 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-23). South Florida started American Athletic Conference play 3-0 for the first time in program history.
 
With the victory, South Florida improved to 7-7 overall and 3-0 in AAC play, while Temple fell to 6-9 overall and 0-3 in conference matches.
 
Sawtelle produced a match-high 15 kills and has tallied double-digit kills in six matches on the season. With her 14 kills, Andrade has recorded double-digit kills in eight straight matches.
 
Tizi Puljiz surpassed the 200-block milestone with two blocks. Caroline Dykes and Imani Hartfield both tied for a match-high two blocks. Dykes led the team and tied her season high with four service aces.
 
The Bulls took an early lead to start the first set. The opening set saw three ties, but South Florida never trailed in the set. The South Florida attack produced 16 kills to secure the first set 25-23.
 
The second set saw six ties. Temple held an 18-11 advantage, its largest of the set. The Bulls were unfazed and battled back to tie the set at 22-22. The two sides traded points until South Florida ended the set with three straight points to claim the second set 28-26.
 
The Owls outscored the Bulls 11-4 to start the third set. South Florida was resilient and tied the match at 21-21. The Bulls closed out the set by outscoring the Owls 4-2. The 25-23 third set secured the sweep for South Florida.
 
NOTABLES

• The 3-0 start to AAC play is the best in program history.
• It is just the second time in history that the Bulls have had sweeps in three-straight matches.
• Tizi Puljiz surpassed the 200-block mark and moved her career total to 201 with two blocks tonight.
• The 46 assists tied a season-high for three-set matches.
• The nine aces are the second most this season.

UP NEXT
South Florida returns to the court on Sunday, October 6, as Memphis makes the trip to Tampa. The Bulls and Tigers are scheduled for a 2 p.m. first serve on ESPN+. Sunday is our Breast Cancer Awareness as well as Alumni Weekend.
 
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. 

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