Friday, October 16
Tampa, Fla.
6 p.m.
University of South Florida
5-12,4-3American
3
vs
0
Charlotte
4-14,1-6American
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 23 | 20 | 18 | 0 |
| South Fla. | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: University of South Florida Athletics
South Florida Volleyball Sweeps Charlotte to Kick Off Homecoming Weekend
October 16, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
The Bulls held the 49ers to a negative hitting percentage
TAMPA, Fla. (October 16, 2026) – Laila Ivey led the University of South Florida volleyball team with a season high in kills on Friday. South Florida held Charlotte to a negative hitting percentage as the Bulls (5-12, 4-3 American) swept the 49ers (4-14, 1-6 American) to start the homecoming festivities.
Laila Ivey led the Bulls with a career-high 14 kills, her third double-digit kill performance this season. Paula Tomasa also reached double digits with 10 kills, doing so for the 12th time this season. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded a match-high 27 assists, marking the 14th time she's had 20 or more. Amelia Wass de Czege led the match with five blocks, while Iyanna Garvin added four. Maya Thomas had a match-high 14 digs, extending her streak of double-digit performances to six matches.
South Florida held Charlotte to a -0.021 hitting percentage. That is the first time this season the 49ers have hit in the negative, and it is the first time the Bulls have held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage. This is the fifth consecutive match in which South Florida has recorded 10 or more blocks.
The Bulls found a steady rhythm in the first set, finding their strength in their attack and block. After Charlotte scored the first point of the match, South Florida went on a 4-0 run and took an early 4-1 lead. A few points later, the Bulls went on a 3-0 run and led the match with a score of 5-10. South Florida continued to pressure Charlotte, which led to the Bulls winning the first set with a score of 25-23.
The two sides traded points to start the second set. With the 49ers up 2-1, the Bulls went on a 6-0 run to take an early 7-2 lead. South Florida continued to rely on its strong attack. Later in the set, South Florida went on a 3-0 run to take a 21-17 lead. The Bulls maintained their steady rhythm and went on another 3-0 run to win the set 25-20.
The Bulls started the third set strong, holding a 7-2 lead. South Florida continued to dominate for the rest of the set and never trailed. The Bulls closed out the final set strong, winning 25-18 and securing the sweep. Ivey produced a set-high five kills, while Tomasa added four.
Note-A-Bulls
• Laila Ivey led the Bulls with a career-high 14 kills. It was her third time this season with double-digit kills.
• Paula Tomasa added to the double digits with 10 kills, marking the 12th time this season she's reached double digits.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded a match-high 27 assists. It is the 14th time she's recorded 20 or more assists.
• Amelia Wass de Czege had a match-high five blocks.
• Iyanna Garvin added four blocks.
• Maya Thomas had a match-high 14 digs, making it her sixth straight match in double digits.
• South Florida held Charlotte to a -0.021 hitting percentage. That is the first time this season that the 49ers have hit in the negative and the first time the Bulls have held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage.
• This is the fifth consecutive match that South Florida has recorded 10 or more blocks.
Up Next
The Bulls return to the Corral on Sunday, October 18, to face Tulane. The match begins at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Follow South Florida Volleyball
For the latest updates from South Florida Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow the Bulls on X / Instagram / Facebook
Get your tickets today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the South Florida Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.
About South Florida Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her seventh season at the helm of her alma mater in 2026. Named head coach on January 8, 2020, as a player she helped lead the Bulls to two conference championships and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances. As head coach, she led the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 for the first time since she was a player in 2002 and guided USF to the 2024 AAC regular-season championship, earning her first Coach of the Year Honor. In 2023, the Bulls won the American Conference East Division, made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, and advanced to the Fab Four to mark the longest postseason run in program history.
South Florida Volleyball has won nine Player of the Year honors, most recently with Maria Clara Andrade winning American Conference honors in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025. The Bulls have also earned four Setter of the Year honors, most recently with Caroline Dykes being recognized in 2024.
South Florida volleyball has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and won 13 conference titles since the program's inception in 1972. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), located adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus in Tampa.
Laila Ivey led the Bulls with a career-high 14 kills, her third double-digit kill performance this season. Paula Tomasa also reached double digits with 10 kills, doing so for the 12th time this season. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded a match-high 27 assists, marking the 14th time she's had 20 or more. Amelia Wass de Czege led the match with five blocks, while Iyanna Garvin added four. Maya Thomas had a match-high 14 digs, extending her streak of double-digit performances to six matches.
South Florida held Charlotte to a -0.021 hitting percentage. That is the first time this season the 49ers have hit in the negative, and it is the first time the Bulls have held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage. This is the fifth consecutive match in which South Florida has recorded 10 or more blocks.
The Bulls found a steady rhythm in the first set, finding their strength in their attack and block. After Charlotte scored the first point of the match, South Florida went on a 4-0 run and took an early 4-1 lead. A few points later, the Bulls went on a 3-0 run and led the match with a score of 5-10. South Florida continued to pressure Charlotte, which led to the Bulls winning the first set with a score of 25-23.
The two sides traded points to start the second set. With the 49ers up 2-1, the Bulls went on a 6-0 run to take an early 7-2 lead. South Florida continued to rely on its strong attack. Later in the set, South Florida went on a 3-0 run to take a 21-17 lead. The Bulls maintained their steady rhythm and went on another 3-0 run to win the set 25-20.
The Bulls started the third set strong, holding a 7-2 lead. South Florida continued to dominate for the rest of the set and never trailed. The Bulls closed out the final set strong, winning 25-18 and securing the sweep. Ivey produced a set-high five kills, while Tomasa added four.
Note-A-Bulls
• Laila Ivey led the Bulls with a career-high 14 kills. It was her third time this season with double-digit kills.
• Paula Tomasa added to the double digits with 10 kills, marking the 12th time this season she's reached double digits.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded a match-high 27 assists. It is the 14th time she's recorded 20 or more assists.
• Amelia Wass de Czege had a match-high five blocks.
• Iyanna Garvin added four blocks.
• Maya Thomas had a match-high 14 digs, making it her sixth straight match in double digits.
• South Florida held Charlotte to a -0.021 hitting percentage. That is the first time this season that the 49ers have hit in the negative and the first time the Bulls have held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage.
• This is the fifth consecutive match that South Florida has recorded 10 or more blocks.
Up Next
The Bulls return to the Corral on Sunday, October 18, to face Tulane. The match begins at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Follow South Florida Volleyball
For the latest updates from South Florida Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow the Bulls on X / Instagram / Facebook
Get your tickets today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the South Florida Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.
About South Florida Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her seventh season at the helm of her alma mater in 2026. Named head coach on January 8, 2020, as a player she helped lead the Bulls to two conference championships and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances. As head coach, she led the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 for the first time since she was a player in 2002 and guided USF to the 2024 AAC regular-season championship, earning her first Coach of the Year Honor. In 2023, the Bulls won the American Conference East Division, made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, and advanced to the Fab Four to mark the longest postseason run in program history.
South Florida Volleyball has won nine Player of the Year honors, most recently with Maria Clara Andrade winning American Conference honors in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025. The Bulls have also earned four Setter of the Year honors, most recently with Caroline Dykes being recognized in 2024.
South Florida volleyball has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and won 13 conference titles since the program's inception in 1972. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), located adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus in Tampa.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
CLT
USF
Kills
24
41
Errors
26
20
Attempts
97
112
Hitting %
-.021
.188
Points
35.5
55.0
Assists
23
37
Aces
3
4
Blocks
8.5
10
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
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