Temple University Athletics
Temple University
6-23,2-16AAC
USF
7-22,1-17AAC
Volleyball Snaps 10-Match Losing Streak with 3-1 Win over USF
11.21.21 | Women's Volleyball
Temple records 15 blocks for third time this season in the victory
TAMPA - Temple volleyball broke its 10-match losing streak on Sunday afternoon (7-22, 1-17 AAC) by defeating the USF Bulls in four sets, 22-25, 25-16, 28-26, 25-23. The Owls used a team effort as it got 15-team blocks, including Taylor Davenport's match-high eight. Miray Bolukbasi tallied her seventh double-double of the season as she led the match with 15 kills and added 11 digs. Peyton Boyd added season-high 13 kills in the win.
Temple head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam was pleased about his team's effort and ability to work through adversity.
"I thought everyone was committed today, even the ones that didn't play in the match. They contributed to our win this afternoon by setting the tone in yesterday's practice."
Coach Ganesharatnam went on to talk about how his team's defense was a big part of the win.
"We had a great block against USF today. I thought our middles (hitters) and our right side block did a great job setting up the block and allowing us to get some good touches offensively. Also, I thought we were very disciplined on defense by getting ourselves into right positions."
The 15-team blocks mark the most the Cherry and White collectively combined for since the Oct. 15 meeting with USF, where they tallied 18. Along with Davenport, six TU players, including Kayla Spells (7), Gem Grimshaw (5), Jaaliyah Evans (4), Bolukbasi (2), and Boyd (2), recorded two or more blocks in the match, holding the USF Bulls to a .107 hitting percentage and 37 errors.
Sunday's victory also marked the first time Temple won back-to-back sets since the five-set win against the Bulls on Oct. 15 and the first time they won three straight sets since the sweep of Lehigh on Sept. 11.
RECAPPING THE MATCH
Set 1
- There were nine ties and three lead changes in the first set.
- With the score in favor of the Bulls, 5-3, the Owls went on a 9-5 run to take a 12-10 lead, winning six straight points on three of Bolukbasi's four set-one kills.
- The Bulls tied it 12-12, leading both teams to trade points and keep the score tied at 18-18.
- USF would survive, putting together a 7-4 run, winning the first set 25-22. The Bulls scored six straight points off kills from Amiree Hendricks-Walker, Marta Cvitkovic, Regan Kenard, and back-to-back service aces.
Set 2
- The Owls allowed one tie in the second set, winning, 28-26, but they never allowed USF to take the lead.
- The blocks were the key to victory in set two as four players recorded a roof, including Kayla Spells, Gem Grimshaw, Katerina Papazoglou, and Bolukbasi.
- Peyton Boyd had a set-high five kills while hitting .714 on seven attempts and no errors.
- Temple scored six unanswered points to help propel them to the victory as setter Patrycja Zielinska added one of her four services and assists to Bolukbasi (2) and Boyd (1).
- The Poland native Zielinska assisted the hot-hitting Owls to a .464 hitting percentage in the second frame.
Set 3
- There were 19 ties and six lead changes, but the Owls were able to pull out the 28-26 win in the third set.
- Temple cooled off from their blazing hitting in the third set but still won that advantage .216 to .212.
- The Owls also won the block advantage by the tune of 4-2 over the Bulls.
- USF held its largest lead of the set at 18-15, but three consecutive service aces turned the momentum to the Cherry and White. A service error by the Bulls' Kelsey O'Loughlin and back-to-back aces from Zielinksa tied the score at 18-18. The two teams would trade points, but Temple would not trail again in the set.
- Grimshaw, Boyd, and Bolukbasi had two kills apiece in the final 10 points for the Owls.
Set 4
- After falling behind 5-2 in the third set, the Owls would take a 7-4 lead, with Grimshaw leading a 4-0 run behind the Owls service line.
- With TU out to its largest lead of seven points (17-10), the Bulls would eventually come back and tie the score at 18-18 as they got four aces from Alexis Williams.
- The Cherry and White would regroup for the 25-23 victory.
- Bolukbasi and Grimshaw combined for three kills of the final seven points for their team.
Overall, the Owls improve to 6-23 on the season and 2-16 in the American.
Temple Individual Leaders
Kills: Miray Bolukbasi - 15
Assists: Patrycja Zielinska - 21
Digs: Falanika Danielson - 15
Block: Taylor Davenport - 8
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