USF Athletic Communications
MATCH #1: Friday, Sept. 9 | 8 p.m. ET | at DePaul | Live Stats
MATCH #2: Saturday, Sept. 10 | 11 a.m. ET | vs. UIC | Live Stats
MATCH #3: Saturday, Sept. 10 | 5:30 p.m. | vs. Albany | Live Stats
LOCATION: McGrath-Phillips Arena | Chicago
FOLLOW: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
TAMPA, Sept. 8, 2016 – The undefeated University of South Florida volleyball team (6-0) returns to the road this weekend to compete in the DePaul Invitational.
The Bulls have begun the season with back-to-back tournament titles, including three wins at both the Charlotte Invitational and USF Invitational.
The team’s six straight wins are the most to begin a season since the Bulls won a program record seven in a row to start the 2000 season.
USF senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.) was named co-MVP of the USF Invitational and The American’s Offensive Player of the Week. She totaled 50 kills in 10 sets and also posted a .295 attack percentage in the team’s three wins last week. Hampton, senior outside hitter Denise Belcher (Apopka, Fla.) and junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) were all named to the all-tournament team.
Three Bulls players are from the Chicagoland area and will be returning home this weekend – senior outside hitter T’ara Austin (Joliet, Ill.), senior Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.), and senior right side hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago).
USF is led by fifth-year head volleyball coach Courtney Draper.
THE OPPONENTS
Albany (2-4)
The Great Danes suffered four straight losses to start the season, including three at the UNLV Invitational. After falling in the opener of the Yale Invitational, Albany responded with wins over Rutgers and Iona on Saturday. The young team is composed of five freshmen and four sophomores.
DePaul (3-3)
The Blue Demons began the season at the Northern Illinois Invitational with a win (Loyola) and two losses (NIU, Iowa). DePaul then traveled to California and won the Bulldog Showdown with a pair of victories over Portland and Fresno State. Sophomore right side hitter Brittany Maxwell averaged 3.58 kills per set and was named both tournament MVP and Big East Player of the Week.
UIC (6-0)
Like USF, the Flames are also undefeated entering the DePaul Invitational. UIC won the Redhawks Invitational and the Jax Classic with three victories at each tournament. The Flames have lost only five sets this year. UIC has yet to have a home match this season but will be competing in its home city of Chicago this weekend.
The Bulls own a 15-6 edge in the all-time series with former Big East foe, DePaul. The two teams have not played each other since 2012.
USF and UIC have split the two meetings between the schools. The last match-up took place in 2006.
The Bulls and Albany Great Danes have never met on the volleyball court.
QUICK SETS
· The Bulls are holding their opponents to a .108 hitting percentage this season.
· Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) is averaging 1.50 blocks per set, the highest total in The American.
· Alex Mendoza’s 11.90 assists per set are the most in the conference this year and the seventh-best average in the country. Her 0.60 aces per set are second best in The American.
· Dakota Hampton’s 4.60 kills per set are the second most in the conference this year.
· With a victory on Friday, USF will have registered seven straight wins, tying the longest such win streak in the Courtney Draper era (9/8/12 to 9/22/12).
· The Bulls have 848 wins in program history. With two wins this weekend, USF will boast 850 overall wins.
TICKETS
Tickets for the DePaul Invitational can be purchased at DePaulBlueDemons.com or by calling 773-325-SLAM. USF home event tickets are available at USFBullsTix.com or by dialing 1-800-Go-Bulls. Single match tickets start at $5.
MATCH #2: Saturday, Sept. 10 | 11 a.m. ET | vs. UIC | Live Stats
MATCH #3: Saturday, Sept. 10 | 5:30 p.m. | vs. Albany | Live Stats
LOCATION: McGrath-Phillips Arena | Chicago
FOLLOW: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
TAMPA, Sept. 8, 2016 – The undefeated University of South Florida volleyball team (6-0) returns to the road this weekend to compete in the DePaul Invitational.
The Bulls have begun the season with back-to-back tournament titles, including three wins at both the Charlotte Invitational and USF Invitational.
The team’s six straight wins are the most to begin a season since the Bulls won a program record seven in a row to start the 2000 season.
USF senior outside hitter Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.) was named co-MVP of the USF Invitational and The American’s Offensive Player of the Week. She totaled 50 kills in 10 sets and also posted a .295 attack percentage in the team’s three wins last week. Hampton, senior outside hitter Denise Belcher (Apopka, Fla.) and junior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.) were all named to the all-tournament team.
Three Bulls players are from the Chicagoland area and will be returning home this weekend – senior outside hitter T’ara Austin (Joliet, Ill.), senior Dakota Hampton (Orland Park, Ill.), and senior right side hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago).
USF is led by fifth-year head volleyball coach Courtney Draper.
THE OPPONENTS
Albany (2-4)
The Great Danes suffered four straight losses to start the season, including three at the UNLV Invitational. After falling in the opener of the Yale Invitational, Albany responded with wins over Rutgers and Iona on Saturday. The young team is composed of five freshmen and four sophomores.
DePaul (3-3)
The Blue Demons began the season at the Northern Illinois Invitational with a win (Loyola) and two losses (NIU, Iowa). DePaul then traveled to California and won the Bulldog Showdown with a pair of victories over Portland and Fresno State. Sophomore right side hitter Brittany Maxwell averaged 3.58 kills per set and was named both tournament MVP and Big East Player of the Week.
UIC (6-0)
Like USF, the Flames are also undefeated entering the DePaul Invitational. UIC won the Redhawks Invitational and the Jax Classic with three victories at each tournament. The Flames have lost only five sets this year. UIC has yet to have a home match this season but will be competing in its home city of Chicago this weekend.
The Bulls own a 15-6 edge in the all-time series with former Big East foe, DePaul. The two teams have not played each other since 2012.
USF and UIC have split the two meetings between the schools. The last match-up took place in 2006.
The Bulls and Albany Great Danes have never met on the volleyball court.
QUICK SETS
· The Bulls are holding their opponents to a .108 hitting percentage this season.
· Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Clara Payne (Osteen, Fla.) is averaging 1.50 blocks per set, the highest total in The American.
· Alex Mendoza’s 11.90 assists per set are the most in the conference this year and the seventh-best average in the country. Her 0.60 aces per set are second best in The American.
· Dakota Hampton’s 4.60 kills per set are the second most in the conference this year.
· With a victory on Friday, USF will have registered seven straight wins, tying the longest such win streak in the Courtney Draper era (9/8/12 to 9/22/12).
· The Bulls have 848 wins in program history. With two wins this weekend, USF will boast 850 overall wins.
TICKETS
Tickets for the DePaul Invitational can be purchased at DePaulBlueDemons.com or by calling 773-325-SLAM. USF home event tickets are available at USFBullsTix.com or by dialing 1-800-Go-Bulls. Single match tickets start at $5.