Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
On Wednesday night, the University of South Florida volleyball team secured its seventh consecutive victory with a hard-fought 3-0 win over the Rice University Owls, maintaining their status as the last undefeated team in the American Athletic Conference.
Head coach Jolene Shepardson praised her team’s resilience.
“That atmosphere was crazy. I really appreciate Bulls Nation coming out. We talk about showing every team what Bulls Nation is all about, and that’s that aggressive, relentless attitude. You saw it. When you have your two outsides hit over 400, 500, it’s probably a pretty hard team to stop,” Shepardson said.
The Bulls dominated offensively, with outside hitters Maria Clara Andrade and Naiya Sawtelle leading the charge. Andrade tallied 21 kills, while Sawtelle contributed 17, with a hitting percentage of .531.
“Maria’s always consistently there. She’s the driver,” Shepardson said.
She also spoke highly of Sawtelle, noting, “The floor shook when Naiya hit. Did it not? Like I felt it shaking. That’s the Naiya we know, and that’s what she’s gonna bring,” said Shepardson.
Setter Caroline Dykes orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing the match with 45 assists.
Shepardson highlighted Dykes’ contributions, particularly in serving and setting the tone early in the game.
“Caroline was just in tune with serve and pass… and that rocked Rice,” Shepardson said.
Defensively, the Bulls stifled Rice’s attempts to gain momentum. Middle blockers Imani Hartfield and Tizi Puljiz alongside outside hitter Ally Cavanaugh contributed to the Bulls’ seven blocks, while libero Lia Schneider played a key role in frustrating Rice’s offense with her digs and defensive positioning.
Schneider’s defensive performance, combined with the aggressive blocking, kept Rice on their heels throughout the match.
With the victory, the Bulls are now the only undefeated team left in their conference, which Shepardson says brings both excitement and added pressure.
“That target grows bigger and bigger, but they have the right attitude. They come in and work. They love getting better,” Shepardson quoted.
The Bulls will look to extend its undefeated streak when they face Florida Atlantic University on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m. in Boca Raton. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen to the action on Bulls Unlimited radio.
