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Bulls volleyball team picks up important winBy ROD GIPSON © St. Petersburg Times, published October 27, 2000 TAMPA -- The USF volleyball team wasn't just staring at an opponent it has had trouble with heading into Saturday's match at Houston. True enough, USF was 2-8 lifetime against the Cougars, but more than getting a win was at stake. There was first place in the Conference USA National Division up for grabs, the all-important regional rankings (which had Houston second and the Bulls third) and seedings to jockey for heading to the conference tournament. Pushing all that aside, USF focused its attention on the court to the tune of a 15-9, 12-15, 15-6, 15-12 win and temporarily taking the Cougar monkey off its back. The victory also meant: USF is atop the National Division at 9-1 and 16-4 overall. Houston is second at 8-2 and 15-5. The Bulls could jump in the NCAA Midwest Region poll. USF now has won nine in a row (all in conference play) with its last loss Sept. 19 against, ironically, Houston. In losing to USF, the injury-plagued Cougars have lost two in a row, potentially setting up a crucial weekend Nov. 10-12 when Houston and USF both face Louisville and Cincinnati, C-USA's other heavy hitters. In claiming its first win ever at Houston, USF got a conference co-player of the week-worthy performance from senior middle blocker Rachelle Paul, who had 19 kills and 23 digs and an outstanding effort from junior outside hitter Michelle Collier, who added 25 kills and 19 digs. Paul was especially effective in the middle, leading the way as USF posted 33 of their kill points from the middle of the court. In saying how great a feeling it was to finally beat Houston since 1997, Paul called the win "one of her final words as a senior and in their house." After splitting the first two games, the Cougars began to feel the loss of three starters, including senior All-American candidate Jennifer Wittenburg. USF closed out the match strong, winning by nine in the third game and three in the finale. As good as the Bulls' up-front play was with Paul and Collier, the setter play was equally strong. The Bulls had 71 assists, 63 coming from senior Melanie Mueller. Although they don't face each other the rest of the regular season, another meeting could come at the C-USA tournament, which starts Nov. 15 in Charlotte, N.C. One game separates the Bulls and Cougars, and they face the same opponents down the stretch: Alabama-Birmingham, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Louisville and Cincinnati. UAB, which USF hosts today and Memphis, which plays at Houston today, have losing records. Neither USF nor Houston should face a challenge until the regular season's final weekend, when both play Louisville and Cincinnati. Houston lost in the tournament semifinals last season to Louisville while the Bulls were ousted from the '99 conference tourney by Cincinnati.
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