GAINESVILLE, Fla., September 8, 2024 – After defeating the No. 10 Florida Gators and the Ohio State Buckeyes, the University of South Florida volleyball team (3-3) completed the weekend sweep with a 3-0 win over the Southern Indiana Screamin' Eagles (2-4) on Sunday afternoon.  
 
The Bulls defeated Southern Indiana with scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-14.
 
Naiya Sawtelle (Stuart) led the match with 16 kills, the only player with double-digit kills. She also had one ace to bring her career total to 92, eight from 100. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) dished out 39 assists and had 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. Tizi Puljiz (Resistencia, Argentina) led the Bulls with three blocks. Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach) and Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Ill.) were named to the Florida Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
After a 7-2 run in the opening set, South Florida held a 12-7 lead over Southern Indiana. The Screamin' Eagles battled back to within one, but the Bulls closed the set with a 6-0 run.
 
The Bulls battled back from an early deficit to tie set at 12. Six more ties would happen before South Florida took control at the end of the set to take the two-set lead.
 
The final set started as a battle with both teams tying at nine. The Bulls took control of the set, finishing on a 15-5 run to complete the weekend sweep.
 
WORDS FROM COACH SHEPARDSON
"This weekend was a team effort from a well-round group. We had some top point scorers that helped us with their attitude offensively in Naiya [Sawtelle], Ally [Cavanaugh], and Maria [Clara Andrade], but it wouldn't be anything without Lia [Schneider] stepping up defensively. She was a boss and covered so much ground. They are really working together as a team now and they are capable of so much. I scheduled this so we know that we can play at this level. We know we have a bright future ahead of us."
 
NOTABLES

• The Bulls improve to 3-3 on the year.
• Cavanaugh and Schneider earned a spot on the Florida Invitational All-Tournament Team.
• Cavanaugh finished the weekend with 45 kills, averaging 3.46 per set.
• Schneider averaged 4.23 digs per set.
• Dykes registered her third double-double of the season.
• Sawtelle led with 16 kills.
• Puljiz led with three blocks.

 
UP NEXT
South Florida welcomes North Florida and N.C. State for the home opener. The Bulls will start the South Florida Invitational on Thursday at 6 p.m. with a match against North Florida. On Saturday, South Florida will face 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.