USF Athletics Roundup: Non-Football Edition

You’ve listened to The Bulluminati Podcast, read our stories and reactions, and even got excited about the undefeated South Florida Bulls football team garnering votes in the polls.

Now it’s time to get caught up with the rest of your Bulls fall sports squads, including the return of men’s and women’s golf, a scorching start to the volleyball season, a ranked soccer team, tennis and more.

Let’s dive right in.

No. 19 Women’s Soccer (4-1)

Following a 2-1 win at Navy on September 7, the Bulls had their final two non-conference contests against Delaware and Western Carolina cancelled due to weather concerns.

In the latest United Soccer Coaches rankings, USF checked in at No. 19 even with having nearly three weeks off.

The Bulls will open up American Athletic Conference play with two matches on the road, at UConn on September 27 and at Temple on September 30.

Men’s Soccer (2-5)

Right when you thought the Bulls might have turned the corner on a tough start with a dominating 4-1 win over FAU, they dropped a wild match 5-3 on Saturday night at FGCU.

USF’s schedule has been far from easy, facing three ranked teams already in Michigan, Michigan State and Creighton.

The Bulls will look to bounce back this Saturday, September 22 at UConn when American Conference play begins.

Volleyball (10-2)

In a stunning turn of events, the USF volleyball team is the hottest squad on campus.

The Bull had their seven-match winning streak and best start since 1996 end Saturday with a tough five-set loss to Charlotte, but the turnaround has certainly been fun to watch.

Head coach Courtney Draper, in her seventh season, reached an impressive milestone in the Bulls 3-0 win over New Orleans on September 14, notching her 100th career win at USF.

Before that, the Bulls swept right through three teams (George Washington, LIU Brooklyn, Holy Cross) at the Blackbird Invitational in Brooklyn and posted a hard-fought victory over LSU in Baton Rouge.

Playing a large role in the hot start, sophomore middle blocker Jaeden Bron was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week and senior setter Briana Stowell was named to the Weekly Honor Roll on September 10.

Junior outside hitter Jac’cara Walker with 40 kills, 31 digs, two double-doubles and .302 hitting percentage earned a spot on the American Weekly Honor as well on Monday.

The Bulls open up conference play with a huge match against C. at The Corral on Friday night at 7 p.m. Be there.

Women’s Golf

USF set the program’s new 18-hole scoring record in the first round of the USA Intercollegiate in Mobile, AL over the weekend and impressively finished in second place in the final round on Monday to begin the fall season.

Led by freshman Ramya Meenakshisundaram, who tied for second in the 93-player field at 4-under in her debut, the Bulls produced the program’s new best 54-hole vs par total with a 2-over 866 finishing just behind California and cementing the return of the #CountryClubSchool.

USF will head to Greenville, SC this weekend for the three-day Lady Paladin Invitational.

Men’s Golf

The men’s squad opened their fall season with a fourth-place finish at the Louisville Cardinal Challenge on Sunday.

The Bulls finished with the second-most birdies (69) and eagles (3) in the field and will return to action in Lake Forest, IL this weekend to compete in the Windon Memorial Classic.

Women’s Tennis

The Bulls enjoyed a trip to the Bahamas over the weekend, and freshmen Selin Yaylali, Laura Pellicer Perello, sophomore Evelyne Tiron and junior Janvhi Clark all picked up singles wins at the Albany Collegiate Invite.

USF will head next to the Rice Invitational, taking place in Houston this weekend.

Notable:

• The men’s tennis team will open up the fall season on Friday in Lafayette, LA at the Cajun Classic
• Cross Country will participate in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Saturday in Gainesville.
• The 13th-ranked sailing team continues the fall season at the Sugar Bowl Regatta (yes, that’s a thing) on Saturday and Sunday in New Orleans.