Wednesday, October 21
Tampa, Fla.
6 p.m.
University of South Florida
6-13,5-4American
3
vs
2
Florida Atlantic
13-7,6-3American
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fla. Atlantic | 25 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 2 |
| South Fla. | 20 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Photo by: Abby Francisco / University of South Florida Athletics
October 21, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
Paula Tomasa recorded a career high in kills and blocks
TAMPA, Fla. (October 21, 2026) – Paula Tomasa recorded a career-high in kills and blocks for the University of South Florida on Wednesday. South Florida completed a reverse sweep against Florida Atlantic. The Bulls (6-13, 5-4 American) defeated the Owls (13-7, 6-3 American) in a comeback.
Tomasa set a career-high 20 kills. It was her 14th match with double-digit kills. She recorded a match-high seven blocks. Addy Brus produced 16 kills at South Florida. Laila Ivey rounded out the Bulls' double-digit kills with 13. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva set a career-high 53 assists. It was her fourth match with 40 or more assists. Iyanna Garvin chipped in with a season-high six blocks. Amelia Wass de Czege added four blocks. Miya Thomas had a match-high 15 digs, her ninth match in double digits. Ryelle Rondo had a perfect reception percentage of 1.000 on 27 receptions, along with 12 digs.
It is the first time this season the Bulls have won a five-set match. South Florida recorded 60 assists, marking their second time reaching that total this season. As a team, the Bulls recorded 15 blocks, their seventh straight match with 10 or more.
After FAU started with a 7-0 run, USF clawed back to within two, 14-12, forcing the Owls to take a timeout. The Bulls continued to battle for the remainder of the first set but fell 25-20. Tomasa opened the set with a set-high four kills. The second set was a back-and-forth battle that was tied 3-3 early. The Owls took the second set 25-14.
South Florida and Florida Atlantic tussled to start the third set. With the Bulls holding a narrow 8-7 lead, USF went on a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. South Florida took a 15-10 lead into the media timeout. The Bulls kept the pressure on the Owls and extended their lead to six, 18-12, forcing FAU to take a timeout. South Florida won the third set 25-23.
The Bulls took an early 6-3 lead to start the fourth set. South Florida carried that momentum, extending their lead to 15-9 ahead of the media timeout. The Bulls cruised to a 25-16 fourth-set victory, capped by a service ace from Jioshvili-Ravva. The Bulls hit an impressive .423 in the set. South Florida's defense held Florida Atlantic to a .032 hitting percentage.
Florida Atlantic opened the final set with a 3-1 run, but South Florida proved resilient, taking a 4-3 lead. After the Owls tied the set at 4-4, the Bulls went on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. The Bulls won the fifth set 15-13, securing the five-set victory and completing the reverse sweep.
Note-A-Bulls
• Paula Tomasa set a career-high 20 kills. It was her 14th match with double-digit kills. She recorded a match-high seven blocks.
• Addy Brus produced 16 kills at South Florida.
• Laila Ivey rounded out the Bulls' double-digit kills with 13.
• Iyanna Garvin chipped in with a season-high six blocks.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva set a career-high 53 assists. It was her fourth match with 40 or more assists.
• Miya Thomas had a match-high 15 digs. It is her ninth match in double digits.
• Ryelle Rondo had a perfect reception percentage of 1.000 on 27 receptions, along with 12 digs.
• The Bulls recorded their first five-set victory of the season.
• South Florida recorded 60 assists, making this their second time recording 60 assists this season.
• The Bulls recorded 15 blocks. It is the seventh straight time with 10 or more.
Up Next
South Florida returns to the Corral on Sunday, October 25, to face Memphis. First serve is set for 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.
Tomasa set a career-high 20 kills. It was her 14th match with double-digit kills. She recorded a match-high seven blocks. Addy Brus produced 16 kills at South Florida. Laila Ivey rounded out the Bulls' double-digit kills with 13. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva set a career-high 53 assists. It was her fourth match with 40 or more assists. Iyanna Garvin chipped in with a season-high six blocks. Amelia Wass de Czege added four blocks. Miya Thomas had a match-high 15 digs, her ninth match in double digits. Ryelle Rondo had a perfect reception percentage of 1.000 on 27 receptions, along with 12 digs.
It is the first time this season the Bulls have won a five-set match. South Florida recorded 60 assists, marking their second time reaching that total this season. As a team, the Bulls recorded 15 blocks, their seventh straight match with 10 or more.
After FAU started with a 7-0 run, USF clawed back to within two, 14-12, forcing the Owls to take a timeout. The Bulls continued to battle for the remainder of the first set but fell 25-20. Tomasa opened the set with a set-high four kills. The second set was a back-and-forth battle that was tied 3-3 early. The Owls took the second set 25-14.
South Florida and Florida Atlantic tussled to start the third set. With the Bulls holding a narrow 8-7 lead, USF went on a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. South Florida took a 15-10 lead into the media timeout. The Bulls kept the pressure on the Owls and extended their lead to six, 18-12, forcing FAU to take a timeout. South Florida won the third set 25-23.
The Bulls took an early 6-3 lead to start the fourth set. South Florida carried that momentum, extending their lead to 15-9 ahead of the media timeout. The Bulls cruised to a 25-16 fourth-set victory, capped by a service ace from Jioshvili-Ravva. The Bulls hit an impressive .423 in the set. South Florida's defense held Florida Atlantic to a .032 hitting percentage.
Florida Atlantic opened the final set with a 3-1 run, but South Florida proved resilient, taking a 4-3 lead. After the Owls tied the set at 4-4, the Bulls went on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. The Bulls won the fifth set 15-13, securing the five-set victory and completing the reverse sweep.
Note-A-Bulls
• Paula Tomasa set a career-high 20 kills. It was her 14th match with double-digit kills. She recorded a match-high seven blocks.
• Addy Brus produced 16 kills at South Florida.
• Laila Ivey rounded out the Bulls' double-digit kills with 13.
• Iyanna Garvin chipped in with a season-high six blocks.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva set a career-high 53 assists. It was her fourth match with 40 or more assists.
• Miya Thomas had a match-high 15 digs. It is her ninth match in double digits.
• Ryelle Rondo had a perfect reception percentage of 1.000 on 27 receptions, along with 12 digs.
• The Bulls recorded their first five-set victory of the season.
• South Florida recorded 60 assists, making this their second time recording 60 assists this season.
• The Bulls recorded 15 blocks. It is the seventh straight time with 10 or more.
Up Next
South Florida returns to the Corral on Sunday, October 25, to face Memphis. First serve is set for 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
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
FAU
USF
Kills
55
63
Errors
29
24
Attempts
153
146
Hitting %
.170
.267
Points
72.0
82.0
Assists
49
60
Aces
7
4
Blocks
10
15
Game Leaders
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
16
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
6
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