TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2025) – South Florida's postseason run came to an end Saturday afternoon, as the No. 2–seeded Bulls fell to No. 3-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane in four sets (24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 17-25) in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship inside The Corral.
USF pushed the opening frame to extra points, generating early momentum and multiple lead changes, but Tulsa edged ahead late to take the set. The Bulls immediately punched back in the second, delivering a composed and efficient response—hitting over .500 in the frame—to even the match and energize the home crowd.
The third set was a battle throughout, featuring 11 ties as both teams traded swings and defensive stops. Tulsa, however, closed the final points with precision to regain the lead. South Florida continued to fight in the fourth but couldn't slow Tulsa's offensive rhythm as the Golden Hurricane pulled away to advance.
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About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her sixth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2025. Named head coach on January 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 2024 AAC regular-season title, earning Jolene Shepardson her first Coach of the Year Honor. In 2023, the Bulls won the AAC East Division title, 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 won eight Player of the Year honors, most recently in Maria Clara Andrade in 2024. The Bulls have also had four Setter of the Year honors, most recently in Caroline Dykes in 2024. South Florida has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 13 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.
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