Friday, October 9
Denton, Texas
7 p.m. ET
University of South Florida
4-11,3-2American
2
at
3
North Texas
9-7,2-3American
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fla. | 25 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| North Texas | 20 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
Photo by: Chad Smith / South Florida Athletics
Bulls Fall to North Texas in Five-Set Heartbreaker
October 09, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
South Florida recorded a season-best 34 block assists
DENTON, Texas (October 9, 2026) – The University of South Florida volleyball team battled North Texas in five sets on Friday. South Florida recorded a season-high 34 block assists, but the Bulls (4-11, 3-2 American) fell to the Mean Green (9-8, 2-3 American) in five sets, 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11).
As a team, South Florida recorded a season-best 34 block assists. It is the first time the Bulls have had 30 or more block assists since September 25, 2022, at Memphis. The Bulls tallied six aces, marking the fifth time this season they have reached six or more aces.
Amelia Wass de Czege recorded a career-high 12 total blocks, including 11 block assists. Her 11 block assists tie for the seventh-most in program history. Miya Thomas recorded a career-high 26 digs. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded her seventh double-double of the season, with a match-high 42 assists and 12 digs. Ryelle Rondo posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 22 chances. Paula Tomasa notched a match-high 16 kills, marking her 10th match with double-digit kills. Laila Ivey posted a season-best 13 kills.
Thomas opened the match with a service ace. After North Texas scored the next point, South Florida went on a 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead. The Bulls extended their lead to seven, 14-7, midway through the first set. South Florida won the first set 25-20. The Bulls never trailed in the first set.
The second set began as a back-and-forth battle. The Bulls took a 10-7 lead, but the Mean Green tied the set at 16-16. The rest of the set was tightly contested, and North Texas took it 26-24. The second set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. The Mean Green went on several runs, building a nine-point lead at 20-11. The Bulls did not give up and cut the deficit to 24-19 before the Mean Green won the third set 25-19.
South Florida kept fighting and scored the first two points of the fourth set. North Texas took a 10-5 lead. The Bulls were resilient, used a 5-0 run to tie at 17-17, then took a 20-17 lead. The Mean Green tied the set at 22-22 before the Bulls won 25-22. There were five ties and two lead changes.
UNT opened the final set with an 8-3 run. South Florida pulled within two at 10-8 midway through the set. The Mean Green held on to win the fifth set 15-11, securing the match victory.
Note-A-Bulls
• South Florida recorded a season-best 34 block assists. It is the first time the Bulls have had 30 or more block assists since September 25, 2022, at Memphis.
• The Bulls have tallied six or more aces for the fifth time this season.
• Amelia Wass de Czege recorded a career-high 12 total blocks, including 11 block assists. Her 11 block assists tie for the seventh-most in program history.
• Miya Thomas collected a career-high 26 digs, marking her fourth straight match with at least 10 digs.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a match-high 42 assists and 12 digs.
• Ryelle Rondo posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 22 chances.
• Paula Tomasa notched a match-high 16 kills, her 10th match with double-digit kills.
Up Next
South Florida remains on the road in Texas for a match against UTSA on Sunday, October 11. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET 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.
As a team, South Florida recorded a season-best 34 block assists. It is the first time the Bulls have had 30 or more block assists since September 25, 2022, at Memphis. The Bulls tallied six aces, marking the fifth time this season they have reached six or more aces.
Amelia Wass de Czege recorded a career-high 12 total blocks, including 11 block assists. Her 11 block assists tie for the seventh-most in program history. Miya Thomas recorded a career-high 26 digs. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded her seventh double-double of the season, with a match-high 42 assists and 12 digs. Ryelle Rondo posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 22 chances. Paula Tomasa notched a match-high 16 kills, marking her 10th match with double-digit kills. Laila Ivey posted a season-best 13 kills.
Thomas opened the match with a service ace. After North Texas scored the next point, South Florida went on a 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead. The Bulls extended their lead to seven, 14-7, midway through the first set. South Florida won the first set 25-20. The Bulls never trailed in the first set.
The second set began as a back-and-forth battle. The Bulls took a 10-7 lead, but the Mean Green tied the set at 16-16. The rest of the set was tightly contested, and North Texas took it 26-24. The second set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. The Mean Green went on several runs, building a nine-point lead at 20-11. The Bulls did not give up and cut the deficit to 24-19 before the Mean Green won the third set 25-19.
South Florida kept fighting and scored the first two points of the fourth set. North Texas took a 10-5 lead. The Bulls were resilient, used a 5-0 run to tie at 17-17, then took a 20-17 lead. The Mean Green tied the set at 22-22 before the Bulls won 25-22. There were five ties and two lead changes.
UNT opened the final set with an 8-3 run. South Florida pulled within two at 10-8 midway through the set. The Mean Green held on to win the fifth set 15-11, securing the match victory.
Note-A-Bulls
• South Florida recorded a season-best 34 block assists. It is the first time the Bulls have had 30 or more block assists since September 25, 2022, at Memphis.
• The Bulls have tallied six or more aces for the fifth time this season.
• Amelia Wass de Czege recorded a career-high 12 total blocks, including 11 block assists. Her 11 block assists tie for the seventh-most in program history.
• Miya Thomas collected a career-high 26 digs, marking her fourth straight match with at least 10 digs.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a match-high 42 assists and 12 digs.
• Ryelle Rondo posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 22 chances.
• Paula Tomasa notched a match-high 16 kills, her 10th match with double-digit kills.
Up Next
South Florida remains on the road in Texas for a match against UTSA on Sunday, October 11. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET 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
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
USF
UNT
Kills
52
58
Errors
30
31
Attempts
155
176
Hitting %
.142
.153
Points
77.0
69.0
Assists
47
55
Aces
6
4
Blocks
19
7
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
12
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Wednesday, February 04
Saturday, December 06
Friday, December 05
Tuesday, December 02
