The USF Bulls would end Temple’s 5 game win streak by sweeping the Owls in 3 sets Friday night.
It was a night that had seen USF control the match for most of the match as USF would defeat Temple 25-18 in the first set, and 25-17 in the second set. The final set would be a nail biter, and would come down to extra points, but finally Temple would defeat USF 28-26.
“I have no idea what happened” said Junior Irem Asci. “There wasn’t any energy on the court or off the court. I don’t know if we were ready for this match.”
The Owls are coming off of a 4 game road trip in which they traveled to UConn in Connecticut, SMU in Dallas, Tulsa in Oklahoma, and Memphis in Tennessee. Friday’s match marked their first home game since Sep. 25.
In the first set the Owls got off to a hot start as they took an early 7-5 lead before USF would later take an 18-16 lead. USF would then rack off 7-1 run to win the set.
The second set was all USF as the Bulls would jump out to a 12-7 lead. Temple would notch 8 errors in the set compared to USF’s 2, and USF outscored Temple late in the set 13-10 to win.
The third set would be the most thrilling as it would be the closest set. Temple would jump out to an 11-7 lead before a 10 minute break would take place due to a USF wardrobe malfunction. USF who was down by 5 at one point stormed back to win the match in nail biting fashion 28-26.
“I just think we didn’t came out and play,” said Senior Kirsten Overton. “I just don’t think we were ready play. There was no heart, and we usually are known for playing with that, but I just don’t think we showed up.”
Some players credit the loss to exhaustion from the 4 game road trip.
“For me personally, exhaustion did set in,” said Asci. “We just couldn’t wake up like even in the first set we started well but we ended up tiring out.”
Temple will play at home Sunday, hosting UCF at 1:00pm at Mcgonigle Hall.
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