By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
Oct. 9, 2009

Results

TAMPA, Fla. – The West Virginia University volleyball team was swept by BIG EAST foe USF this evening at The Corral in Tampa, Fla.

USF improved to 10-4, 3-1 after defeating the Mountaineers (11-9, 1-4) in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-21) match.

The match began with a 5-3 Mountaineer lead after a pair of kills from sophomore setter Kari Post and junior middle blocker Lauren Evans. However, USF quickly returned with a kill from Alli Arbogast to start a 4-0 run. The Bulls remained in the lead to take set one, as they posted 16 kills, including six from Arbogast, who also had a perfect hitting percentage.

The Bulls continued to dominate through the beginning of set two, until a dig from junior libero Bonnie West gave the Mountaineers some momentum. On the same play, junior middle blocker Abby Norman added a kill to bring the score to 5-7. Down 16-23, behind the serving of senior outside hitter Kristina Gallahan, the Mountaineers made a late set run with back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter Andrea Miller. Despite their best efforts, USF managed to hold on to the lead to win set two.

Serving gave the Bulls an early 3-0 lead in the third set, but the Mountaineers refused to give up as a kill from Gallahan created a WVU side-out. With the Bulls up 3-7, Miller posted two-straight kills to come back to within two. USF dominated for most of the set, until a kill from sophomore outside hitter Michelle Kopecky gave the Mountaineers the ball back. Kopecky then posted another kill, which was followed by a Gallahan service ace to give the Mountaineers a 4-0 run. Once again, the Bulls proved to be too much as they took the match on a kill from Marcela Gurgel.

Gallahan led the Mountaineers in the match with 11 kills, seven digs and two service aces, while West led with nine digs.

The Mountaineers will travel north to complete competition this weekend with a 2 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Georgetown.