USF Volleyball Schedule

[Brad]

 

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Web Link: https://bit.ly/2zo0mvl

 

USF Volleyball Announces 2018 Schedule 
The Bulls will play 31 matches, host two non-conference tournaments and face 15 opponents in Tampa  

TAMPA, July 12, 2018 – Seventh-year head coach Courtney Draper and the University of South Florida volleyball team are pleased to announce the 2018 schedule.

Filled with 31 matches, 15 being played at home, the Bulls will be tested. USF matches up against eight teams that played in the postseason in 2017. 

USF has faced challenges in the non-conference each year and the 2018 slate is no different. For the second time in as many seasons, USF begins competition at home, hosting the USF Invitational Aug. 24-25.

“I am very excited about the competitive schedule that we have put together,” said coach Draper. “I think there are some very good teams that will test us early and prepare us for the competitive American Athletic Conference.”

The Bulls will start 2018 against San Jose State on Aug. 24, then finish with the nightcap against Jacksonville. The opening tournament concludes against the defending America East champ Stony Brook on Aug. 25. The trio of opponents held a combined record of 53-35 last year.   

The Bulls take to the road the following weekend for the LSU Invitational Aug. 31 – Sept. 1. USF begins the tournament Aug. 31 against Duke, which finished 19-12 in 2017. The Bulls face Texas A&M later that evening, then meet the host Tigers on Sept. 1. LSU went 20-10 in the SEC last year and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Life on the road becomes custom, as USF heads north for the LIU Brooklyn Invitational Sept. 7-8.The Bulls open the weekend with George Washington University, followed by the Blackbirds on Sept. 7. LIU Brooklyn went 20-10 last year and won the NEC Tournament. The Bulls’ invitational run ends against Holy Cross on Sept. 8.

The Bulls return to Tampa for the final non-conference tournament, hosting the USF Classic Sept. 14-15. USF will play UNC Charlotte (19-12 in 2017) to begin the tournament on Sept. 14 and take on the University of New Orleans that same day. The Bulls battle the University of North Dakota to wrap up tourney play on Sept. 15. The Fighting Hawks went 30-8 and won the Big Sky Tournament last year.

USF opens American Athletic Conference play with the War on I-4, as the rival UCF Knights come to Tampa on Sept. 21. USF travels to Jacksonville for a meeting with North Florida on Sept. 23, putting the finishing touches on non-conference competition. 

Diving head-first into league action from there, the Bulls are at Memphis on Sept. 28 before closing out September at Tulane on the 30^th. USF has its toughest test in The American the following weekend, when the defending league champ Wichita St. makes its way to Tampa on Oct. 5. The Shockers went 29-14 last year, a perfect 20-0 in conference, and hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The matchup with the Shockers opens October and is the first of four straight home games. USF hosts Tulsa (Oct. 7), UConn (Oct. 12) and Temple (Oct. 14).

“Our conference continues to get tougher and tougher every year, and with the talented recruits coming into the league, this year will be no different,” said coach Draper.

The Bulls go back-and-forth between the road and the Corral the next four weekends, traveling to Cincinnati (Oct. 19) and East Carolina (Oct. 21). USF then returns home for contests against SMU (Oct. 26) and Houston (Oct. 28). 

The final month of the regular season begins in Philadelphia, as USF travels to Temple (Nov. 2) before a trip to Storrs, Conn., to face the Huskies (Nov. 4). The Bulls are back in Tampa, battling ECU (Nov. 9) and the Bearcats (Nov. 11) in the home finale. USF will conclude the regular season with three consecutive road tilts. The Bulls make a swing through Texas, beginning at Houston (Nov. 16) followed by SMU (Nov. 18). The 2018 slate finishes in Orlando for the season’s second War on I-4 battle (Nov. 21).   

To view the full schedule, please click HERE. 

 

[BrassBulls12]

 

 

[BullyPulpit]

This is one program that doesn't seem to have any traction. 2000 to 2002, we showed promise, but then pretty much nothing since. I don't follow this program closely, but does anyone have any insight as to why they can't seem to get it going? Now that WSU is in the conference, it is going to be tough for us to ever make the NCAA tournament. 

[Triple B]

5 minutes ago, BullyPulpit said:

This is one program that doesn't seem to have any traction. 2000 to 2002, we showed promise, but then pretty much nothing since. I don't follow this program closely, but does anyone have any insight as to why they can't seem to get it going? Now that WSU is in the conference, it is going to be tough for us to ever make the NCAA tournament. 

A good question. You'd think there would be some flashes in there, even if not maintained .Decent venue in the Corral. Few games I''ve gone to seem to have decent crowds. Lots of talent in the state, but also a lot of college programs fielding teams.

A gousfbulls.com article about this year's recruiting class ... USF Volleyball Recruiting Class Recognized by PrepVolleyball

[bullman3]

I agree, this was a successful program back in the 90s.  Might be time for a coaching change.

[BullyPulpit]

41 minutes ago, bullman3 said:

I agree, this was a successful program back in the 90s.  Might be time for a coaching change.

Hopefully VPA Kelly will come in and do a complete evaluation of all of our athletic programs. Coach Draper has had 6 full seasons to improve the program and has floundered, despite the AAC as a whole not being a strong volleyball conference. Not that we should be making the NCAA tournament every year, but she has really failed to field a truly competitive team. 

[bullsfan27]

Last tournament appearance was in 2002 so we are well overdue for a tourney appearance. We've had a couple of season where we finished around .500 but for the most part we haven't been above .500 much the last 15 years.

[RG]

Coach Draper's record versus program to the east is 1-10 and winning only 8 sets out of 40 total sets played. USF still leads overall series 49-33.

8/26/12 (H)       W           3-2

9/27/13 (A)        L            3-0

11/1/13 (H)       L            3-0

10/08/14 (H)     L            3-1

10/29/14 (A)     L            3-2

10/21/15 (A)     L            3-1

11/4/15 (H)       L            3-1

9/21/16 (A)        L            3-0

11/2/16 (H)       L            3-0

11/22/17 (A)     L            3-0

11/25/17 (H)     L            3-0

[charsibb]

Losing to the kanniggits in straight sets four times in a row without scoring is a fire-able offense. In any sport. She's gotta go.

 

Edited July 18, 2018 by charsibb