TAMPA, Fla., September 14, 2024 – The University of South Florida women's volleyball team (4-4) fell to the NC State Wolfpack (4-2) on Saturday afternoon to split the weekend in the South Florida Invitational.
 
The Bulls lost with scores of 17-25, 27-25, 23-25, 19-25.
 
Naiya Sawtelle (Stuart) led the way in kills with 18, her second-straight match with double-digit kills. Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach) and Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) also finished with double-digit kills. Samiha Foster (Laurel, Maryland) and Andrade both secured aces. For Foster, it is now her second straight match with an ace. Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Illinois) secured a career-high in digs with 25. Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) ended the afternoon with two solo blocks.
 
The Bulls contested early against the Wolfpack in the opening set, going on a 3-0 run after dropping the first point. NC State pulled away after grabbing seven points in eight opportunities at the midway point to propel them to win the opening game.
 
In set two, USF bounced back to tie the match up in a back-and-forth battle that featured five lead changes. Andrade secured two kills to help the Bulls go on a four-point push late while trailing 21-18. This helped put the Bulls in a position to close out the set by capturing the final two points.
 
The third set played out similarly to the second with USF trailing by a slim margin. A solo block by Puljiz highlighted the set for the Green & Gold. A 6-1 run allowed USF to be within two points late, but NC State was able to seal the deal to take the 2-1 advantage.
 
In the match finale, USF held a 9-7 lead after scoring five straight. Foster grabbed a service ace during the run. However, the Wolfpack would begin to pull away following the momentum swing for South Florida, allowing NC State to pick up the clinching set.
 
NOTABLES

• Schneider secured a career-high in digs with 25.
• Andrade posted her first double-double of the season.
• Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas)  secured her fourth double-double of the season.
• Sawtelle and Schneider earn all-tournament team honors for the South Florida Invitational.

 
UP NEXT
On Thursday, the Bulls will head to Fort Myers for their final preseason tournament. South Florida will take on hosts, Florida Gulf Coast once and Dayton twice. 
 
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.