Volleyball Falls Short at USF, 3-2

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TAMPA, Fla. - The Seton Hall volleyball team fell to USF, 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-21, 22-25, 15-8), in a hard fought match. The Pirates (14-14; 6-7 BE) still have a chance to qualify for the BIG EAST Championship, but will need to a win on Sunday at Georgetown and help from other teams.

 

Sophomore Sarah Osmun (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and senior Tricia Meyers (Cincinnati, Ohio) each played outstanding matches despite the defeat. Osmun had 23 kills with a .327 hitting percentage to go with nine digs. Meyers racked up 18 kills on a .552 clip and added three blocks.

 

Osmun put Seton Hall on top 16-13 after a service ace in the first set. The Bulls (16-12; 6-7 BE) put some pressure on to pull within a point at 21-20, but the Pirates held USF off to take the set, 25-23.

 

Seton Hall got off to another solid start in the second set, taking a 12-9 lead to get things started. Later in the contest, the teams each traded runs with the Bulls jumping out to a 20-14 lead only to see the Pirates answer with a 7-1 spurt to regain tie the score at 21 apiece.

 

USF blocked an Osmun attack to make it, 25-24, but Osmun spiked home a ball to keep SHU alive. Another kill from Osmun fought off another set point situation, and an attack error from the Bulls gave the Pirates a chance to serve for the set.

 

USF came back once again to take a 28-27 lead, but freshman Meghan Matusiak (Winfield, Ill.) came up with a clutch kill to tie the score yet again. However, the Bulls finally managed to score two straight points after a kill and block to tie the match, 1-1.

 

The fourth set was a close affair, but USF took the lead about midway through and never relinquished the advantage and took the frame, 25-21.

 

Meyers put the Hall up 10-5 in the fourth set and the Pirates eventually took an 18-6 lead. The Bulls tried to mount another late rally, but like the first set Seton Hall prevailed to force the deciding set.

 

The Pirates started strong, going ahead 5-3, but USF exploded for a 12-3 run to finish the match.

 

Seton Hall’s match against the Hoyas is at 2:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.