USF volleyball head coach Jolene Shepardson played for the Bulls in 2002, the last time the program captured an AAC regular season title.

She was a core member of the team, finishing second with 416 kills that year. Shepardson said the key to building a championship roster is having a strong bond.

“I really wanted them to love the moments in the competition they have with each other,” Shepardson said. “That’s what I remember as a player. That’s how you create champions.”

USF volleyball entered its match versus UAB on Sunday in control of its own destiny. 

Despite a rocky start to the season, the Bulls were in position to claim the 2024 American Athletic Conference regular season title with a victory over the Blazers.

The Bulls rose to the challenge, winning in a 3-0 sweep, capturing its first regular season championship since 2002. 

Shepardson said she felt ecstatic after the team’s win.

“My heart is so full,” Shepardson said. “It’s incredible.”

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The Blazers took an early 3-0 lead in set one, but the Bulls (18-9, 14-2 AAC) climbed back to win 25-21. USF did not trail again in the remainder of the match, outscoring UAB 50-24 in the last two sets.

Shepardson said the team she coaches now shares similar character traits to the squad she played on 22 years ago.

“UAB pressed us and we pushed back. They felt the joy of the fight,” Shepardson said. “That grittiness is something we were like.”

Junior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade extended her double-digit kill streak to 21, finishing with a game-high of 17. Andrade said the team’s journey made winning the AAC title special.

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“It means a lot to us knowing how much we went through, knowing how hard the season was for us, but we stayed close together,” Andrade said. 

The Bulls got off to a slow start this year, dropping its first three games to start the season. After beginning 0-3, USF picked up its momentum, as its win versus No. 10 Florida on Sept. 6 began a four-game win streak. 

South Florida would go on to dominate AAC play, winning its first seven matches. The Bulls finished conference play 14-2, ending on a six-game winning streak to conclude the season.

With the regular season behind, the Bulls now turn their attention to post-season play. 

USF will compete for the AAC tournament title, giving them a chance to gain a berth in the NCAA tournament. Both accomplishments were last achieved by Shepardson’s 2002 team.

With more volleyball to come, Andrade and the Bulls have a chance to add to their historic season. She said she knows the job isn’t done, and the team is ready for more.

“We’re in the right mindset coming into the tournament,” Andrade said. “We’re ready to kill everyone in front of us, bring the title home and go for nationals.”