Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The USF Bulls swept the University of North Flordia (UNF) 3-0 on Thursday night (25-22, 25-21, 25-19) marking the fourth win for the Bulls.
The first set was a back-and-forth, with neither team gaining an early advantage.
USF responded immediately with a kill by outside hitter Ally Cavanaugh after UNF struck first by outside hitter Anna Butler. The Ospreys capitalized on a few errors by USF, pushing the score to 6-5 in their favor, but the Bulls’ offensive duo of Cavanaugh and other outside, Naiya Sawtelle quickly regained the momentum.
Kills from outside’s Cavanaugh and Maria Clara Andrade helped USF maintain a slight lead throughout the set. North Florida’s setter, Annie Antar kept things close with crucial assists, including one to Butler that tied the game at 10-10.
USF’s defense, led by Andrade and Imani Hartfield, tightened up as they made critical blocks and forced UNF into attack errors, allowing USF to pull ahead 15-12.
The Bull’s service game was another highlight, with setter Caroline Dykes, delivering a key service ace that extended the Bulls’ lead to 9-7. Late in the set, UNF managed to come back within two points at 24-22, but a service error by the Ospreys gave USF the 25-22 set win.
USF head Coach Jolene Shepardson acknowledged the closeness of the opener, saying, “There were some points where North Florida was really pushing us, but we refocused and trusted each other, which made the difference.”
The second set saw USF pulling ahead early.
Once again, Cavanaugh and Sawtelle led the charge, combining for multiple kills that helped build an 8-6 lead. UNF responded, leveling the score at 14-14 behind strong play from Butler and Antar, but USF quickly adjusted.
In a key moment, setter Tatiana Johnson came off the bench and made an immediate impact with a series of well-timed serves, sparking a run that put USF ahead 17-15.
“Tatiana came in and gave us a huge lift,” coach Shepardson said. “Her serving brought us a lot of momentum in that second set, and it’s great to know we have that kind of depth.”
UNF’s attack faltered as the Bulls’ defense forced them into errors.
Hartfield and Andrade combined for crucial blocks, while libero, Samiha Foster, contributed with a service ace and some key digs that kept the Bulls’ lead intact. Late in the set, Andrade delivered a powerful kill that pushed the Bulls to 24-21, and a service error by UNF closed out the set 25-21.
With a 2-0 lead, USF entered the third set with confidence.
UNF, however, refused to go down quietly. The Ospreys matched USF point for point early on, with Butler and middle, Kierstyn McFall, leading their attack. USF’s defense, led by Andrade, Hartfield, and libero Lia Schneider, held firm, allowing the Bulls to capitalize on UNF’s mistakes. At 10-10, a critical service ace by Dykes and a kill from Cavanaugh gave USF a 12-10 edge.
USF’s balanced offense continued to shine, with Andrade, Sawtelle, and Cavanaugh all contributing kills. Andrade was particularly effective, with multiple kills late in the set that kept the Bulls in control.
“Maria was unbelievable tonight,” coach Shepardson said. “Offensively, she’s so hard to defend, and she really set the tone for us.”
Despite a valiant effort from UNF, including some well-placed kills by McFall, the Bulls were able to build a comfortable lead and never look back. In the third set, the Bulls won 25-19 to win the match and improve their overall record.
There were several standout performances praised by coach, including Foster’s, who contributed despite being sick in the days leading up to the game.
“Samia really came through for us, even though she hasn’t been feeling her best,” coach Shepardson said. “She got some key points and handled some tough serves when we needed it.”
USF will face North Carolina State at home on Sat. Sept. 14 at 2:00 p.m., with Shepardson’s confidence about the team’s trajectory. “This win reinforces the trust and behavior we’re building every day. It’s a talented group, and we’re playing with a joyful love of the game,” she said. “We’ve been playing some great volleyball, and I expect that to continue this weekend. North Carolina State is a talented group, but so are we. I know we’ll be ready.”
