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Things were finally back to normal this weekend for the USF athletic program after Hurricane Irma washed away or postponed many games and tournaments across campus for a solid week.
The Bulls football team not only returned to Raymond James Stadium on Friday night but also returned to normal form, routing Illinois to improve to 3-0.
Other happenings around USF athletics this weekend included...
Volleyball
In Jacksonville, the USF volleyball team dropped a Friday match to Austin Peay (25-21, 16-25, 24-26, 23-25) before sweeping through Saturday at the Dolphin Invitational. The Bulls knocked off Presbyterian College in four sets (19-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-19) and then Jacksonville in straight sets (25-18, 25-17, 25-21).
USF senior Joli Holand recorded 22 kills, 14 digs and seven total blocks in the tournament, while fellow senior Alex Mendoza led all Bulls on Saturday with 130 total assists in the three matches.
After the USF Invitational was canceled last week, the Bulls (4-5) finally return home on Friday night to open up American Athletic Conference play against Cincinnati.
Men’s Soccer
Following a 2-0 loss to Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska, the USF men’s soccer team flew to Atlanta but were eventually stranded due to Hurricane Irma.
After the Atlanta United, of the MLS, took the Bulls under their wing for a few days, USF returned home to face Loyola Marymount on Sunday night. Carl has us covered with everything that happened in that game.
Women’s Soccer
The USF women’s soccer team had two big contests canceled, including a home match against Mississippi State and a road match against Florida in Gainesville.
The Bulls did travel to Washington, D.C., and shut out Howard 1-0 on Friday night. A goal by sophomore forward Evelyne Viens, USF’s top scorer, in the 29th minute was the difference in the game. USF out shot Howard 12-3 in the first half.
USF, now 4-2 on the season, opens up conference play on the road on Thursday night at ECU.
Also...
USF men’s golf will begin the fall schedule with 36 holes on Monday at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate in Choudrant, La. They will also play 18 holes on Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates on that.
USF cross country returned from a 13-day break at the Asics Embry-Riddle Classic in Daytona Beach Saturday afternoon. The men were runners up, while the women finished third.