GAINESVILLE, Fla., September 6, 2024 – For the first time since 1990, the University of South Florida volleyball team (1-3) defeated the Florida Gators (3-1), defeating the 10th-ranked team on home court Friday night. The win is South Florida’s first in Gainesville and the highest-ranked opponent the Bulls have ever defeated.
The Bulls won 15-25, 25-22, 12-25, 25-23 and 15-10.
Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach) led the Bulls with 18 kills each. Imani Hartfield (Sanford) and Jalynn Brown (New Smyrna Beach) followed with 10 kills. Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) had 49 assists. Lia Schneider (St. Charles, Illinois) led with 21 digs.
The Gators led the match 2-1 and extended their lead to 12-5 in the fourth set before South Florida fought back, won the set and forced a fifth game. The Bulls scored five straight points before the teams went back and forth and USF took the lead for good, 21-20.
In the fifth and final set, the Bulls led the Gators 8-6 when the media break came. South Florida kept its momentum and defeated the No. 10 Gators in five sets.
After losing the first set and tying the second set 10-10, South Florida turned the game around with a 7-3 victory. Florida cut USF’s lead to two, 24-22, before a service error by the Gators gave the Bulls a 25-22 set win.
South Florida fought back and forced a fifth set against Florida for the second year in a row.
WORDS FROM COACH SHEPARDSON
“First of all, I’m proud of them because they were incredibly brave. We didn’t start very well. They put us under pressure, but we talked about how we could build pressure. They had it in mind and went out and executed it. In this game, momentum is what matters and we can pivot and build that pressure.”
ACQUAINTANCE
- This is the first win over Florida since 1990.
- This is the highest-ranked win and the first victory over Florida in Gainesville in program history.
- The last top-20 win came in 1996 against No. 17 Louisville.
- South Florida fought back and forced a fifth set against Florida for the second time in a row
- Brown set a new career high with 10 kills.
- Four Bulls finished the game with double-digit kill counts.
Next
South Florida will continue the Florida Invitational tomorrow night with a match against Ohio State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
About USF Volleyball
Head Coach Jolene Shepardson will begin her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2024. Shepardson was named head coach on January 8, 2020, and led the Bulls program to its last conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002. South Florida captured the AAC East Division title in 2023 and made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, winning three games and advancing to the Fab Four, marking the longest postseason run in program history. South Florida Volleyball has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 12 conference titles since its inception in 1972. The Bulls play at The Corral (1,000 spectators), located adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus.
Follow the USF women’s volleyball team on social media (Þjórsárdalur/Instagram/on facebook.) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the latest information.
– #GoBulls –
