TAMPA, Fla., April 3, 2026 – The University of South Florida beach volleyball team opened Friday's action at the GSU Beach Volleyball Complex with a dominant 5–0 sweep over Mercer before closing the day with a hard-fought 3–2 victory against Georgia State (receiving votes). The Bulls improved to 17–5 overall with the pair of wins and continued their strong inaugural season.
 
South Florida controlled the morning dual from start to finish, winning all five courts against Mercer in straight sets. The Bulls then battled through a tighter afternoon matchup against Georgia State, securing the dual with wins on courts 1, 2, and 3.
 
South Florida 5, Mercer 0

The Bulls opened the day in dominant fashion, sweeping all five courts to earn their first win of the weekend.
 
Ariana Medchill and Alyx Zapatka (Pair 5) were first off the sand with a 21–11, 21–12 win, followed closely by Morgan Anderson and Sasha Pasloski (Pair 4), who rolled to a 21–11, 21–8 victory. Isabella Almeida and Zoey Mitchell (Pair 2) added another straight-set point with a 21–8, 21–17 result. 
 
Julia Panko and Cornelia Crudu (Pair 1) secured a 21–15, 21–17 win, while Tereza Lajkebova and Kate Stewart (Pair 3) capped off the sweep with a 21–10, 27–25 victory to close the dual.
 
South Florida 3, Georgia State (RV), 2
 
South Florida closed the day with a gritty 3–2 win over Georgia State, earning victories on the top three courts to take the dual.
 
Isabella Almeida and Zoey Mitchell (Pair 2) put the Bulls on the board with a straight-set 21–18, 21–17 win. Morgan Anderson and Sasha Pasloski (Pair 3) followed with a three-set battle, defeating their opponents 21–19, 18–21, 15–9. 
 
With the dual tied heading into the final decision, Julia Panko and Cornelia Crudu (Pair 1) rallied after dropping the opening set to earn a 19–21, 21–18, 15–12 comeback victory and clinch the match for South Florida. Georgia State picked up points on courts 4 and 5. 
 
Note-A-Bulls:
• Sweep to Start — South Florida opened the day by winning all five courts against Mercer in straight sets.
• Top Three Take It — The Bulls secured the Georgia State dual with wins on courts 1, 2, and 3. 
• Battle-Tested Bulls — South Florida recorded two three-set wins against Georgia State, including the match-clinching decision on court 1. 
 
UP NEXT
South Florida continues play at the GSU Diggin' Duals on Saturday, facing North Alabama at 8 a.m. before taking on UAB in a conference matchup at 2:30 p.m.

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About USF Beach Volleyball
The University of South Florida Beach Volleyball program is the newest program in the now 21-team USF Athletics program. South Florida Beach Volleyball joined Conference USA on July 1, 2025. Pri Piantadosi-Lima was named South Florida's first-ever beach volleyball head coach on June 6, 2023. She also serves as the head coach of USAV Beach and the national team development program and was honored as the 2022 USA Volleyball Female Junior Coach of the Year. Before joining South Florida, Piantadosi-Lima helped launch the Eckerd College program in 2015 as an assistant coach and helped lead the program to its first AVCA national championship and two consecutive NCAA championship podium finishes.


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