Volleyball ready for in-state showdown
USF coach Claire Lessinger knows what kind of environment the Bulls head into tonight when they face UCF.
“This is an intensive rivalry, as it’s been built over the years, and I know we’re kind of a highlighted match on UCF’s schedule,” she said. “It’s going to be fun.”
The Bulls, who play the Knights at 7 p.m. in Orlando, lost two matches last weekend to top-ranked opponents: No. 4 Florida and No. 8 Minnesota in the Tampa Twice Tournament at the USF Sun Dome.
“Our two losses are to two top-10 teams and that’s not too shabby,” she said.
UCF enters the match 8-2 after a successful road trip in North Carolina, where the Knights defeated High Point and UNC Greensboro.
UCF’s home court is similar to USF’s Sun Dome Corral. The Venue is a 2,000 seat, mini-arena that is expected to be at capacity for “VolleyBowl II.”
USF heads into this match with injury concerns. Seniors Pamela Luiz (shoulder) and Alli Arbogast (elbow) were injured during the Tampa Twice Tournament. Arbogast’s time was split by sophomore Kelsey Palmer and redshirt freshman Caitlyn Breen. Luiz finished the match against Minnesota.
Regardless of who suits up for USF, Lessinger expects a challenge. The Bulls defeated the Knights in straight sets back in 2007, the last time the two teams met.
“They’re a much better team than they were even a year ago,” she said. “And the rivalry speaks for itself, if you start lining us up player-for-player, talent-for-talent, you can throw all of that out when you get USF vs. UCF on the court. I’m expecting a big battle.”
More Stories
Thank you to Oracle readers and supporters
Dear reader: In April, we told you of The Oracle’s challenges as we transition to a fully-digital paper – from budget cuts to a lack of updated technology. We asked for your help and you stepped up. Through your contributions, we raised over $800 just one month after announcing our new fund with the USF […]
Florida’s ‘Stop Woke’ law could endanger USF students’ education, professors say
Elizabeth Aranda has been educating students on Latino history for over two decades. Aranda, a USF sociology professor, said she wouldn’t be able to do her job if Florida’s “Stop Woke” law were put into effect. “Imagine you are an orchestra conductor but you’re missing every third page of the musical score,” Aranda said. “There […]
USF’s decision to replace ‘cultural icon’ Pollo Tropical is disappointing, students say
Upon arriving in Tampa, junior criminology major Ana Hernandez said she felt a certain culture shock. Hernandez, who moved from Venezuela to Miami as a child, found it hard to find familiar food as often as she did in Miami, where the Hispanic community is bigger. USF’s on-campus Pollo Tropical, located just a brief walk […]
New USF residential hall at the Sarasota-Manatee campus to open in August
USF Sarasota-Manatee will open its first residential hall in late August, joining Tampa and St. Pete as a residential campus. With a $43.95 million price tag, the new building will serve as both a student center and residential hall. It will open on Aug. 23, the Friday before fall classes begin. The dorm will allow […]
USF professors discuss 2024 primary: ‘Do not skip this election’
The clock is ticking with less than a month left to register by July 22 for this year’s primary election. With critical races like local school boards and Senate on the line, USF professors are urging students to make their voices heard this election season. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan is a political science professor and the […]
Former USF football player killed in car crash
Former USF tight end Teigan Martin was killed in a single-car crash in Minnesota on Monday morning, according to the Carver County Sheriff’s office. First responders responded to a report of a crash on County Road 122 near Hollywood Township, MN, just after 5 a.m., according to a sheriff’s press release. Deputies discovered a vehicle […]