FORT MYERS, Fla., September 21, 2024 – The University of South Florida women's volleyball team (4-7) fell to the No. 24 Dayton Flyers on Saturday afternoon to close the FGCU Homewood Suites Tournament.
 
The Bulls lost with scores of 20-25, 17-25, 23-25.
 
Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) finished the match with 14 kills, one service ace, and one solo block. Samiha Foster (Laurel, Md.) started the match with her 12^th ace of the season. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) and Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Ill.) tied with nine digs. Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) finished with a .500% hitting percentage.
 
South Florida had a pair of 3-0 runs in the opening set, the second cutting Dayton's lead to 23-19. Sawtelle registered the final kill for the Bulls, but the Flyers took set one with a score of 25-20. Andrade led the way for the Bulls with four kills in the first set.
 
After the Bulls jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, the Flyers used a 7-2 run to take the two-point lead. Lewis' kill gave South Florida the one-point lead, but Dayton coasted to a 25-17 set-two win.
 
South Florida jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but Dayton answered to tie the set at 14. The Flyers closed the set on a 5-0 run.
 
NOTABLES

• With 32 assists, Dykes career total is 3,450. She is 50 assists away from 3,500.
• Andrade stretched her double-digit performance streak to five matches.
• Foster served her 12^th ace in the match. She leads the Bulls in total aces this season.

 
UP NEXT
South Florida will return home for the start of American Athletic Conference play. The Bulls will start their conference slate with the Charlotte 49ers and the East Carolina Pirates. The Bulls and 49ers will play on Friday at 6 p.m. for International Student Night. South Florida and ECU will go head-to-head 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.