USF Athletic Communication
MATCH #1: Friday, Sept. 30 | 7 p.m. | at Cincinnati | Watch Live | Live Stats
MATCH #2: Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1 p.m. | at East Carolina | Watch Live | Live Stats
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TAMPA, Sept. 29, 2016 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (10-4, 1-1 The American) returns to the road to visit Cincinnati (6-7,1-1) on Friday and East Carolina (10-2,0-2) on Sunday.
The Bulls enter the weekend following a 3-1 home win over Memphis on Sunday. Senior libero Amy Van Sant (Atlanta) notched 25 digs in the four sets, tying a career-high. Senior right side hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago) also matched her career-best with 15 kills. Junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) tallied 41 assists in the victory and surpassed 1,500 assists in her USF career.
Van Sant was also named to The American’s Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. She averaged 6.25 digs over seven sets to earn the recognition. Van Sant is the second Bull to receive honor roll recognition this season (Dakota Hampton, Aug. 29). USF has also had two players earn The American’s Offensive Player of the Week Award (Alex Mendoza, Sept. 19 and Dakota Hampton, Sept. 4) and one player earn defensive player of the week (Elyse Panick, Aug. 29).
Courtney Draper is in her fifth season as the Bulls’ head coach.
THE OPPONENTS
Cincinnati was projected to finish first in The American this season but has surprisingly begun the season 6-7. UC started the year 4-2 including a pair of wins at both the DISH Tennessee Classic and the Shocker Volleyball Classic, but have lost five of their last seven matches. Most recently, the Bearcats won 3-2 at Tulsa in the conference opener (Sept. 23) but were then defeated in five sets at SMU (Sept. 25). Sophomore right side hitter Jordan Thompson was named The American’s Preseason Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team. Like Thompson, sophomore outside hitter Carly Nolan was also named to the preseason all-conference team.
Despite a last place projection in The American’s preseason coaches’ poll, East Carolina was a perfect 10-0 in the non-conference part of their season. The Pirates won the Bucknell Invitational, Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational and the Georgia State Invitational. Most recently, ECU began conference play with 3-1 losses at SMU (Sept. 23) and at Tulsa (Sept. 25). The Pirates did not land anyone on the preseason all-conference team but their .101 opponent’s hitting percentage is the best in The American this season.
USF leads the all-time series with ECU 6-2, including a 3-1 mark with Courtney Draper as head coach. The Bulls are also 3-1 in road matches at ECU.
UC holds the 17-12 edge in the all-time series with USF. 35 percent of the meetings between the two schools have gone five sets.
QUICK SETS
The USF volleyball program has reached the NCAA Tournament seven times and boasts seven conference championships. In 2016, the Bulls return 10 players from last season including their top eight point scorers from a year ago. USF also brings back senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.), who was named to the 2016 American Athletic Conference preseason team. The 6-0 start was the program’s longest winning streak to begin a season since 2000. The Bulls are guided by fifth year head coach Courtney Draper. Follow the volleyball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
– #GoBulls –
MATCH #2: Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1 p.m. | at East Carolina | Watch Live | Live Stats
FOLLOW: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
TAMPA, Sept. 29, 2016 – The University of South Florida volleyball team (10-4, 1-1 The American) returns to the road to visit Cincinnati (6-7,1-1) on Friday and East Carolina (10-2,0-2) on Sunday.
The Bulls enter the weekend following a 3-1 home win over Memphis on Sunday. Senior libero Amy Van Sant (Atlanta) notched 25 digs in the four sets, tying a career-high. Senior right side hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago) also matched her career-best with 15 kills. Junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) tallied 41 assists in the victory and surpassed 1,500 assists in her USF career.
Van Sant was also named to The American’s Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. She averaged 6.25 digs over seven sets to earn the recognition. Van Sant is the second Bull to receive honor roll recognition this season (Dakota Hampton, Aug. 29). USF has also had two players earn The American’s Offensive Player of the Week Award (Alex Mendoza, Sept. 19 and Dakota Hampton, Sept. 4) and one player earn defensive player of the week (Elyse Panick, Aug. 29).
Courtney Draper is in her fifth season as the Bulls’ head coach.
THE OPPONENTS
Cincinnati was projected to finish first in The American this season but has surprisingly begun the season 6-7. UC started the year 4-2 including a pair of wins at both the DISH Tennessee Classic and the Shocker Volleyball Classic, but have lost five of their last seven matches. Most recently, the Bearcats won 3-2 at Tulsa in the conference opener (Sept. 23) but were then defeated in five sets at SMU (Sept. 25). Sophomore right side hitter Jordan Thompson was named The American’s Preseason Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team. Like Thompson, sophomore outside hitter Carly Nolan was also named to the preseason all-conference team.
Despite a last place projection in The American’s preseason coaches’ poll, East Carolina was a perfect 10-0 in the non-conference part of their season. The Pirates won the Bucknell Invitational, Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational and the Georgia State Invitational. Most recently, ECU began conference play with 3-1 losses at SMU (Sept. 23) and at Tulsa (Sept. 25). The Pirates did not land anyone on the preseason all-conference team but their .101 opponent’s hitting percentage is the best in The American this season.
USF leads the all-time series with ECU 6-2, including a 3-1 mark with Courtney Draper as head coach. The Bulls are also 3-1 in road matches at ECU.
UC holds the 17-12 edge in the all-time series with USF. 35 percent of the meetings between the two schools have gone five sets.
QUICK SETS
- USF ranks second in The American in digs (17.82)
- The Bulls are third in assists (13.08), kills (13.88), and opponent’s hitting percentage (.156).
- USF has won eight straight home matches but eye their second true road win of the season.
- The Bulls have notched seven sweeps this year and were swept just one time.
- Dakota Hampton is nearing the 1000 kill total in her USF career. She currently has 922.
The USF volleyball program has reached the NCAA Tournament seven times and boasts seven conference championships. In 2016, the Bulls return 10 players from last season including their top eight point scorers from a year ago. USF also brings back senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.), who was named to the 2016 American Athletic Conference preseason team. The 6-0 start was the program’s longest winning streak to begin a season since 2000. The Bulls are guided by fifth year head coach Courtney Draper. Follow the volleyball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
– #GoBulls –