Friday, October 2
Tampa, Fla.
6 p.m.
University of South Florida
vs
Rice
Photo by: Chad Smith / South Florida Athletics
South Florida Volleyball Hosts a Pair of Owls for Conference Home Openers
September 30, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
Watch vs. Rice (ESPN+)Live Stats vs. RiceTickets vs. RiceWatch vs. Temple (ESPN+)Live Stats vs. TempleTickets vs. Temple
South Florida looks to improve on a 1-1 record in the American Conference
TAMPA, Fla. (September 30, 2026) – The University of South Florida volleyball team returns to The Corral for two American Conference matches starting Friday. South Florida (2-10, 1-1 American) plays Rice (7-7, 1-1 American) Friday, October 2, at 6 p.m., and Temple (10-4, 2-0 American) Saturday, October 4, at 1 p.m. Both matches will stream on ESPN+.
Fans attending Sunday's match against Temple will receive light-up glow sticks while supplies last.
Over the weekend, South Florida knocked off Wichita State for just the second time in program history. Paula Tomasa was named the American Conference Freshman of the Week. Tomasa tied for the team lead with 24 kills, averaging 3.43 kills per set. She added 16 digs, four blocks, two service aces, and one assist. In the match against the Shockers, she tallied 18 kills, marking her eighth match with double-digit kills.
Stout Blocking
South Florida ranks among the NCAA's best in blocks. The Bulls are 38th with 2.59 blocks per set. Amelia Wass de Czege is tied for 56th in the country with 1.31 blocks per set.
Know the Foes
South Florida and Rice will meet for the seventh time on Friday. The series is tied 3-3. The Bulls are 3-0 at home against the Owls. Rice won the last meeting, 3-0, in Houston on October 10, 2025.
South Florida and Temple will meet for the 35th time on Sunday. The Bulls lead the series 22-12 and are 14-7 at home against the Owls. South Florida has won the past seven meetings, including a 3-0 sweep in the most recent matchup on October 19, 2025, in Tampa.
American Conference Standings
T1. Tulane – 10-2, 2-0
T1. Tulsa – 10-3, 2-0
T1. Temple – 10-4, 2-0
T1. East Carolina – 9-5, 2-0
T5. North Texas – 8-5, 1-1
T5. Florida Atlantic – 8-5, 1-1
T5. Rice – 7-7, 1-1
T5. Wichita State – 4-10, 1-1
T5. South Florida – 2-10, 1-1
T10. UTSA – 9-4, 0-2
T10. UAB – 6-8, 0-2
T10. Memphis – 5-8, 0-2
T10. Charlotte – 3-10, 0-2
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.
Fans attending Sunday's match against Temple will receive light-up glow sticks while supplies last.
Over the weekend, South Florida knocked off Wichita State for just the second time in program history. Paula Tomasa was named the American Conference Freshman of the Week. Tomasa tied for the team lead with 24 kills, averaging 3.43 kills per set. She added 16 digs, four blocks, two service aces, and one assist. In the match against the Shockers, she tallied 18 kills, marking her eighth match with double-digit kills.
Introducing the @American_Conf Freshman of the Week, Paula Tomasa!
Release: https://t.co/3gDRvcFuBO pic.twitter.com/aNyzI6xWdm
— South Florida Volleyball (@usfvolleyball) September 28, 2026
Stout Blocking
South Florida ranks among the NCAA's best in blocks. The Bulls are 38th with 2.59 blocks per set. Amelia Wass de Czege is tied for 56th in the country with 1.31 blocks per set.
Know the Foes
South Florida and Rice will meet for the seventh time on Friday. The series is tied 3-3. The Bulls are 3-0 at home against the Owls. Rice won the last meeting, 3-0, in Houston on October 10, 2025.
South Florida and Temple will meet for the 35th time on Sunday. The Bulls lead the series 22-12 and are 14-7 at home against the Owls. South Florida has won the past seven meetings, including a 3-0 sweep in the most recent matchup on October 19, 2025, in Tampa.
American Conference Standings
T1. Tulane – 10-2, 2-0
T1. Tulsa – 10-3, 2-0
T1. Temple – 10-4, 2-0
T1. East Carolina – 9-5, 2-0
T5. North Texas – 8-5, 1-1
T5. Florida Atlantic – 8-5, 1-1
T5. Rice – 7-7, 1-1
T5. Wichita State – 4-10, 1-1
T5. South Florida – 2-10, 1-1
T10. UTSA – 9-4, 0-2
T10. UAB – 6-8, 0-2
T10. Memphis – 5-8, 0-2
T10. Charlotte – 3-10, 0-2
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
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