TAMPA, Fla., September 12, 2024 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (4-3) stretched its win streak to four in the 3-0 sweep over the North Florida Ospreys in their home opener on Thursday night. With the win, the Bulls also stretch their Corral win streak to seven.
 
The Bulls defeated North Florida with scores of 25-22, 25-22, 25-23.
 
Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the match with 15 kills and four blocks. It's her fourth match with double-digit kills. Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach) and Naiya Sawtelle (Stuart) also finished with double-digit kills. Samiha Foster (Laurel, Md.) and Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Ill.) led with two aces. Schneider's second ace served as the match-winning point. As a team, the Bulls out-blocked the Ospreys six-to-two. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) led with 38 assists.
 
The Bulls and Ospreys were battling throughout the opening set, tying 11 times. Solo blocks from Hartfield and Andrade and aces from Dykes and Foster highlighted the set. South Florida closed out the set with a 7-2 run.
 
Set two was the same as the first but with almost half as many ties. With North Florida holding a 16-14 lead, a block from Andrade and Dykes started a run that would give the Bulls the momentum they needed to take set two with the same score as the previous.
 
The third set was a battle until the end. North Florida tied the set at 22 to force a South Florida timeout. After the timeout, the Ospreys took the 23-22 lead. Andrade, Sawtelle, and Schneider scored the last three points to close out the match and give South Florida its fourth straight win.
 
NOTABLES

• The Bulls stretch their win streak to four.
• South Florida has won seven straight matches in the Corral, stretching back to last season.
• The Bulls out-blocked the Ospreys six-to-two.
• Dykes brings her career-assist total to 3,289.
• With two aces tonight, Foster now leads the team with eight service aces this season.
• South Florida remains undefeated against North Florida with a 10-0 record.

 
UP NEXT
On Saturday, the Bulls will close the South Florida Invitational with a match against the N.C. State Wolfpack at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
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.