TAMPA, Fla., October 6, 2024 – For the first time since joining the American Athletic Conference, the University of South Florida volleyball team (8-8, 4-0 AAC) is 4-0 after defeating the Memphis Tigers (7-9, 1-3 AAC) on Sunday afternoon with a final of 3-1.
 
The Bulls won with scores of 25-18, 19-25, 25-15, and 25-17.
 
For the ninth straight match, Maria Clara Andrade finished with double-digit kills. Her 20 kills today are a season high. Lia Schneider finished with 16 digs and five service aces. Her five aces are a new career high. Samiha Foster served three aces, bringing her season total to 19.
 
At the net, Tizi Puljiz led the way for the Bulls with five blocks. She and Andrade were the only Bulls to get a solo block. Ally Cavanaugh finished the match with four block assists.
 
Naiya Sawtelle joined Andrade with double-digit kills with 15. Her three aces bring her career total to 99, one away from the milestone of 100.
 
It was all Memphis for the first six points, taking a 5-1 lead. South Florida answered with a 10-0 run, behind three service aces from Schneider. The Bulls held the lead for the remainder of the set. South Florida held Memphis to a .240 hitting percentage while hitting a .469.
 
The Tigers took control of set two, quickly taking the 14-6 lead. The Bulls fought their way back to tie the set at 18, but the Tigers took set two.
 
South Florida and Memphis traded points to open the third set. With the teams tied at 10, the Bulls grew their lead with a 10-3 run. The Bulls coasted to a 25-15 set three win.
 
The final set included four ties before either team reached 10 points. The Bulls capitalized on a few Tiger errors, and two kills from Sawtelle to grow their lead. Memphis came within two points, but a late run gave South Florida the momentum to close out the match.
 
NOTABLES

• Schneider set a new career-high of four service aces
• Andrade stretched her double-digit performance streak to nine matches.
• Sawtelle is one ace away from 100 in her career.
• This is the first time the Bulls have started conference play 4-0 since joining the AAC.
• South Florida out-blocked Memphis 16-9.

 
UP NEXT
South Florida will head back on the road for a swing trip against Wichita State and Tulsa. The Bulls and Shockers will go head-to-head on Friday at 8 p.m. South Florida and Tulsa will face off on Sunday at 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. 

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