USF Volleyball Announces Challenging 2017 Schedule
2017 SCHEDULE
TAMPA, JULY 19, 2017 – Four early season tournaments before a highly competitive American Athletic Conference schedule provides the USF Volleyball team with an exciting slate of matches for the 2017 season.
A balanced schedule features 32 matches against teams from 11 different conferences, including the Big Ten and SEC, with 15 matches set to be played in Tampa.
"I am very excited about this year's schedule," said sixth-year head coach
Courtney Draper. "To open with a Big Ten school and have two SEC schools on the schedule prior to conference play is great for this team."
For the first time since 2013, the Bulls will see the season's first serve at home in the USF Invitational, Aug. 25-26. The six-match tournament will feature Northwestern of the Big Ten and SEC member LSU, along with Arkansas Pine Bluff. USF went 11-5 at home in 2016, the best mark since 2012.
"I think that our fans will really enjoy watching our team compete this season," said Draper. "Many of our opponents tell us that the Corral is one of the toughest venues to play in because of our amazing fan support. I expect to have another strong record in Tampa, protecting our home floor."
The Bulls get things started with the second match of the opening invitational, taking on Northwestern on Aug. 25. USF will play two matches the next day, facing Arkansas Pine Bluff at noon followed by LSU at 7 p.m. USF has gone 5-1 in opening tournaments over the last two seasons and has dropped a total of only four sets.
The Bulls will be tested when hitting the road for the first time, as they take part in the Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Miss., Sept. 1-2. USF faces Stephen F. Austin to begin the tournament. The Ladyjacks have been one of the Southland Conference's best with 64 wins and an NCAA appearance over the last three seasons. USF will play the hosts Mississippi State later that day and conclude the weekend against Grambling State on Sept. 2.
The Bulls return to Tampa for the USF Classic, Sept. 8-9. The weekend begins with Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8 before a match against FAU on Sept. 9. The Bulls finish the tournament against Oral Roberts.
USF remains in Florida for its final non-conference matches when it travels to Jacksonville for the Dolphin Invitational, Sept. 15-16. The Bulls open the tournament against Austin Peay, which finished 24-11 last season and 12-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. USF then faces Presbyterian College and concludes tournament play against the host Dolphins on Sept. 16.
"All of our pre-season and non-conference opponents will really help us prepare well for what has proven to be an extremely tough American Athletic Conference," said Draper.
The American schedule will be both challenging and competitive, as nine of the 12 members finished above .500 last season, including USF at 19-13. Three American Conference schools made it to the NCAA Tournament, including Cincinnati, who the Bulls open league play at home against on Sept. 22. USF will also host East Carolina on Sept. 24 to conclude the opening weekend of conference play.
The first road contest in conference action will be on Sept. 29 at the newest member of The American, Wichita State. The Shockers might be new to the conference, but they are no strangers to the college volleyball national spotlight, having won the Missouri Valley Conference and made it to the NCAA Tournament in nine of the last 10 years. It will be USF's second all-time meeting with Wichita State and the first since 2005.
"The addition of a storied Wichita State program really makes this league one of the more challenging conferences in the country from top-to-bottom," said Draper.
The first-ever trip to Wichita, Kan., will start a four-game road swing through The American. USF turns its attention to Memphis on Oct. 3. Following the contest against the Tigers, the Bulls make their first trip of the year to Texas on Oct. 6 when they battle SMU in Dallas. The Mustangs finished 2016 at 26-8, won their opening NCAA Tournament match and have posted no fewer than 22 wins since 2013. The season's longest road trip concludes at Tulsa on Sept. 8.
USF returns home on Oct. 13 against a 22-win Temple squad from a season ago and a tilt against UConn on Oct. 15. The Bulls wrap up their first run through the league with a pair of road matches, at Tulane on Oct. 20 and at Houston on Oct. 22.
The first rematch of 2017 will take place on Oct. 27 when Memphis comes to Tampa. The Bulls will welcome the Shockers to the sunshine state for the first time on Oct. 29.
The final month of the regular season begins on Nov. 3 at ECU, followed by a match at Cincinnati on Nov. 5. The Bulls host Houston on Nov. 10 and Tulane on Nov. 12. A three-game road trip beginning on Nov. 17 at UConn ensues.
The Bulls then travel to Philadelphia to face Temple on Nov. 19 before the War on I-4 resumes three days later. The initial matchup with UCF begins a home-and-home to close out the regular season. USF hosts its intrastate foes for senior day on Nov. 25. The Bulls hold a 49-33 edge in the all-time series against the Knights.
"Though this schedule provides many of exciting challenges, I am confident in our player's abilities and our entire staff can't wait to get the season started," said Draper.
With no American Athletic Conference Tournament, the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds will be held Dec. 1-3.
About USF Volleyball
2016 was a big year for the USF volleyball team. The Bulls' 19 wins were the most in a decade, dating back to the 2007 season. USF also finished with 10 wins in conference, most since 2013, and a fifth place finish in The American. In the conference, the Bulls finished first in blocks by opponent (1.52) and ranked in the top five in aces, digs, hitting percentage, and opponent's hitting percentage. The 6-0 start was the program's longest winning streak to begin a season since 2000. USF returns a slew of talent for 2017, led by senior setter Alex Mendoza (Minneola, Fla.), who surpassed the 2,000 assist total in 2016 and led the Bulls with 125 helpers. Redshirt-junior middle blocker Clara Payne finished second with on the team with 340 points and senior middle blocker Joli Holland finished fourth with 251.5. The Bulls are guided by sixth 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.
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