Two losses force USF into corner
With each win in the volleyball team’s five-game home stand, the Bulls’ momentum snowballed. Now, a winless four-game road trip seems to have melted that pacing, bogging down the Bulls as they fight to make the Big East tournament.
USF (15-12, 5-7) fell in two straight-set matches to the St. John’s Red Storm (20-7, 11-1) and the Connecticut Huskies (20-7, 9-3) over the weekend. Despite sitting at ninth place in the Big East with one week to go, coach Claire Lessinger said she wants her team to remain upbeat.
“We had awful starts this weekend,” Lessinger said. “All I asked from the players was to play each point so we could gain some momentum. Right now, we have to stay optimistic and positive because we have a huge weekend coming up.”
The Bulls have a chance to regroup and close out their Big East schedule at home. They face two must-win games against the Seton Hall Pirates and the Villanova Wildcats, two teams also fighting for a Big East tournament berth.
Lessinger said playing at home gives USF a morale boost.
“Right now, we have the advantage of playing at home,” Lessinger said. “We control our own destiny and we’re optimistic we’ll have a good week of practice, but we have to earn (a tournament berth), because other teams aren’t going to give it to us.”
After the losses, senior middle blocker Nakia Williams and junior outside hitter Marcela Gurgel said they are glad they’ll play the upcoming matches at home.
“It’s really important,” Williams said. “It will be a good change for us to play at home, where we’ve been successful all season long.”
Gurgel agreed.
“It’s our last chance to make the tournament,” she said. “This weekend will be all or nothing for us, and we’re glad we will have our fans cheering us on. We have to come out of the locker room ready to play in order to win.”
More Stories
Here’s how these undrafted USF football players’ careers turned out
Ahead of Thursday’s NFL Draft, many players wait in anticipation to hear their names called in the first round. For some, it’s an instant ticket to stardom. But being selected on the first day of the draft isn’t the only route to a successful career. Fifteen former undrafted NFL players are enshrined in the NFL […]
Column: USF men’s basketball, thanks for the fun season
This is a personal column about assistant sports editor Noah Vinsky’s first-hand experience covering men’s basketball. Sports have always run in my blood. Growing up, ESPN was nearly on a constant loop on my living room television. I came to USF knowing I wanted to be a writer. The Oracle seemed like a great place […]
USF’s Mindy McCord builds culture of “family and love” into lacrosse
At 23 years old, a career in coaching was not what Mindy McCord had envisioned. After a stint playing for one of the top field hockey teams in Australia following a successful college playing career, she returned to America. McCord was on track to earn a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech while coaching […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
Here’s why these USF softball players chose their jersey numbers
For athletes, the number they wear is more than the added fabric on the back of their jersey. It often tells a deeper story about the players — who they are and where they come from. Here’s why these three USF softball players chose their respective jersey numbers. Related: USF softball is gaining momentum during […]
USF football head coach Alex Golesh: The man behind the process
Football coach Alex Golesh said USF has been on his mind since his own days as a college student when the program was top five in the country. “I distinctly remember sitting there watching it and thinking ‘What is S Florida and what are they doing in the top five in the country?’” Golesh said. […]