TAMPA, Fla., November 14, 2024 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (16-9, 12-2 AAC) will close out the 2024 regular season by welcoming the Tulane Green Wave (14-12, 6-8 AAC) and the UAB Blazers (10-15, 5-9 AAC) this Friday and Sunday.
 
The Bulls and Green Wave will go head-to-head on Friday at 5 p.m. Before the match, South Florida will recognize its senior class of Caroline Dykes, Tizi Puljiz, Naiya Sawtelle, and student manager Adely Ode.
 
On Sunday, the Bulls will look to capture the 2024 American Athletic Conference regular season title as they take the UAB Blazers at 11 a.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
South Florida traveled to North Carolina for matches against the Charlotte 49ers and the East Carolina Pirates. The Bulls defeated both to remain top of the American Athletic Conference. In Friday's sweep over the 49ers, Caroline Dykes became the 16th active DI setter to surpass the 4,000-assist mark. Freshman setter Livia Niu made her collegiate debut and set a career-high of 10 assists against East Carolina.
 
RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bulls head into the final weekend of the regular season tied with Rice, who is also 12-2. Wichita State is two matches behind at 10-4 but has a shot at winning a share of the regular season title if South Florida and Rice lose both matches. The Bulls own the tiebreaker over both teams and would still hold the No. 1 Seed in the conference tournament next weekend if the three teams tied.
 
The current standings are below:
School                         AAC                 Overall
South Florida               12-2                 16-9
Rice                             12-2                 17-6
Wichita State              10-4                 15-11
East Carolina               10-5                 17-8
Tulsa                            9-5                   17-9
Florida Atlantic           7-7                   15-11
Tulane                         6-8                   14-12
Memphis                     6-8                   12-14
UAB                             5-9                   10-15
Temple                        5-9                   13-15
North Texas                5-9                   8-17
UTSA                           3-11                 9-18
Charlotte                     2-13                 5-23
 
THE AMERICAN TOURNAMENT
For the first time since 2020, the AAC will have a conference tournament. After the departure of SMU last season, the regular season runners-up, Wichita State Shockers, will host this year's tournament November 22-24 inside of Charles Koch Arena.
 
ON THE UP & UP
Head coach Jolene Shepardson took over the South Florida volleyball program in 2020. In her first three seasons, including a shortened covid year, the volleyball program won a total of 23 matches, eight in AAC play. In 2023, the program won 22 matches, 13 in the conference, and a share of the AAC East Division Title.
 
So far this season, the Bulls have won 12 conference matches and are tied for first in the conference. The Bulls are two wins away from winning their first regular season title since 2002 and the 10th in program history. 
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT STREAK
Maria Clara Andrade is currently on a 19-match double-digit kill streak. In four of the last 19 matches, Andrade has recorded 20+ kills. Her 25 kills against North Texas were three away from tying her career-high of 28.
 
Naiya Sawtelle is now on an 11-match double-digit kill streak. She started her streak at Temple with 15 kills. At Wichita State, she set a season-high of 20.
 
Lia Schneider has a double-digit dig streak of 11 matches. She has registered at least 20 digs in seven of the last 11 matches. Schneider set a career-high of 27 digs against FAU.
 
SENIOR WEEK
This Friday, South Florida will honor its senior class of Caroline Dykes, Naiya Sawtelle, and Tizi Puljiz. The celebration will take place prior to the start of the match against Tulane. The Bulls will also recognize the Green Wave's two seniors: Agata Beksha and Sami Jacobs. 
 
THE AMERICAN IN THE RPI
The American has four schools ranked in the Top 100 of the latest edition of the NCAA RPI, led by Rice at 33.  Wichita State stands at 56, followed by South Florida (57) and Tulsa (86). East Carolina is just outside at 104.
 
Outside of conference opponents, the Bulls have played six teams who rank higher than they are: Dayton (15), Florida (23), Florida State (29), NC State (48), FGCU (64), and Georgia (84).
 
WEEKEND ROUND UP
Tulane Green Wave (14-12, 6-8 AAC)
Date: Friday, November 15 | 5 p.m.
Live Stats: Statistics
Watch: ESPN+
Series vs. Tulane: South Florida leads, 32-13
Scouting the opponent:

• Tulane is coming off a 3-0 loss to Wichita State on Sunday.
• Sami Jacobs leads the Green Wave with 38 service aces. She's sixth in the conference.
• Sabrina Skyers has 91 blocks for the Green Wave. She is averaging 0.90 blocks per set.

 
UAB Blazers (10-15, 5-9 AAC)
Date: Sunday, November 17 | 11 a.m.
Live Stats: Statistics
Watch: ESPN+
Series vs. UAB: South Florida leads, 34-9
Scouting the opponent:

• UAB is coming off a 3-0 loss at Rice.
• Jorda Cook is fourth in the conference with 3.85 kills per set and third with 4.56 points per set.
• Brooklyn Allison ranks fifth in the conference in digs. She is averaging 3.93 digs per set.

 
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 to a conference championship and the program's last NCAA tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002. South Florida won the AAC East Division title in 2023, made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, won three matches, and advanced 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 in Tampa.
 
Be sure to follow USF women's volleyball on social media (X / Instagram / Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.