USF Volleyball Sweeps Charlotte in Homecoming Match on Friday
On October 16, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, the University of South Florida volleyball team swept Charlotte 3-0 to kick off homecoming weekend. Laila Ivey led the Bulls with a career-high 14 kills while holding the 49ers to a negative hitting percentage, gousfbulls.com reported.
Laila Ivey and South Florida Attack Dominate Charlotte in Straight Sets
The University of South Florida volleyball team improved to 5-12 overall and 4-3 in American Athletic Conference play with the home victory over Charlotte on Friday. Laila Ivey paced the offense with 14 kills, marking her third double-digit performance of the season. Paula Tomasa added 10 kills for her 12th double-digit match of the year. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva directed the attack with 27 assists, reaching the 20-assist threshold for the 14th time this season.
Defensively, the Bulls controlled the net. Amelia Wass de Czege recorded a match-high five blocks, and Iyanna Garvin chipped in four. South Florida has now recorded 10 or more blocks in five consecutive matches. Maya Thomas anchored the back row with 14 digs, extending her streak of double-digit dig matches to six.
The team performance stifled the 49ers (4-14, 1-6 American). South Florida held Charlotte to a -0.021 hitting percentage. The statistic marks the first time this season that the 49ers have finished a match hitting in the negative, and the first time the Bulls have held an opponent below zero.
Set-by-Set Breakdown at The Corral
South Florida established control early in the opening set. After Charlotte scored the game’s first point, the Bulls responded with a 4-0 run to take a 4-1 lead. They maintained pressure throughout the frame to secure a 25-23 win.
The second set began with tighter play before a 6-0 run gave the Bulls a 7-2 advantage. Another late 3-0 push secured a 25-20 victory. In the third set, South Florida jumped to a 7-2 lead and never trailed, closing out the sweep with a 25-18 win. Ivey tallied five kills in the final set, and Tomasa added four.
Homecoming Weekend Schedule and Upcoming Match Against Tulane
The victory serves as the opening athletic event of the university’s homecoming weekend. Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her seventh season leading her alma mater, following a 2025 campaign that returned the program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since her playing days in 2002.
The Bulls return to action quickly. South Florida hosts Tulane at The Corral on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with the match scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans seeking single-game or season tickets can contact the ticket office by phone at 1-800-GO-BULLS or via email at BullsTickets@usf.edu.