The Big USF Athletics Weekend Roundup

It’s the best time of the year. Toe meets leather on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium, and the rest of the South Florida Bulls fall sports are heating up.

Let’s check out how it all went down on a solid weekend across USF athletics.

Women’s Soccer (2-1)

Following a thrilling, overtime opening night win over Towson, and a tough, one-goal loss at Auburn, the Bulls returned home on Friday night for a showdown with No. 17 Baylor.

As our own Carl Zee explains here, a lengthy weather delay couldn’t stop the Bulls from upsetting the Bears in convincing fashion.

Junior striker Evelyne Viens, who bagged a goal and two assists in the win, earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Freshman goaltender Sydney Martinez, who faced 15 shots and made six saves to help USF down the Bears, took home American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors as well.

USF returns to action on Thursday, August 30 against Detroit Mercy at Corbett Stadium.

Men’s Soccer (0-1)

With two exhibition wins under their the belts, the Bulls traveled to Michigan over the weekend to open up the regular season.

On the schedule? Two top 25 matches against Michigan State and Michigan.

On Friday night, the Bulls dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to the seventh-ranked Spartans, allowing the only goal of the game on a corner kick in the 86th minute. It was the first, and only, shot on goal allowed by the Bulls.

USF will look to bounce back in Lansing against No. 21 Michigan on Monday night at 7 p.m.

Volleyball (3-0)

While not easy, the Bulls impressively swept through the USF Invitational over the weekend at The Corral to begin the regular season.

On Friday, the Bulls knocked off San Jose State in the morning and Jacksonville in the nightcap behind 10 kills from redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne and a double-double by senior Briana Stowell.

USF needed five sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-10) to knock off defending America East Champions, Stony Brook on Saturday to complete the perfect weekend.

Junior outside hitter Jac’cara Walker was named MVP of the tournament, registering 43 kills and 31 digs in the three matches.

Head coach Courtney Draper told GoUSFBulls.com, “It was certainly fun. Definitely a great balance of being challenged and having success against quality teams, one of which was an NCAA tournament team from last year. It was a complete effort all weekend and an excellent atmosphere with the fans over the last two days.”

USF will return to action at the LSU Tiger Classic on Friday morning against Duke in Baton Rouge, LA.