#18 Creighton Volleyball Sweeps USF

OMAHA, Neb. -- The No. 18 Creighton Volleyball team hit .297 in a 3-0 win over South Florida on Saturday afternoon to open play at the Creighton Classic. Scores of the CU's third straight home sweep inside D.J. Sokol Arena were 25-19, 25-15, 25-23.

Ava Martin hit .480 and led all players with 13 kills and Jaya Johnson made her six-rotation debut with nine kills and a career-high seven digs.  Creighton (6-5) hit .297 and finished with 40 kills, seven aces, 36 digs and six blocks.

USF (4-6) was led by nine kills from Samiyah Abdur-Rahim, who entered the match without a kill this fall. USF's top two attackers, Maria Clara Andrade (4.00 kps.) and Arianna Beckham (2.34 kps.)  did not play in the match. The Bulls closed with 31 kills, 34 digs, four blocks and two aces on .205 hitting.

Creighton never trailed in the first set en route to a 25-19 victory. The Jays scored six of the first seven points and went up by double-figures at 18-8 before coasting to the finish. Martin had five kills as CU hit .379 in the opener.

The Bluejays took their first lead of the second set on a 4-0 serving run by Saige Damrow to move in front 11-9. The Bluejay run continued as CU built a 16-11 lead on a combo block from Martin and Eloise Brandewie. Creighton held USF to .000 hitting in its 25-15 second set victory, with Damrow digging six balls and Brandewie stuffing three attacks.

The third set featured eight ties and six lead changes as the Bluejays overcame a 15-12 deficit to earn a sweep. A three-point service run by Johnson put the Bluejays in front 21-19 and the Bluejays would play sideout volleyball from there to secure the 25-23 win. Kiara Reinhardt paired with Johnson for a block on match point. USF was hurt by six service errors in the third set as Creighton would side out at a 75 percent rate.

USF meets No. 17 Kansas on Sunday at 10 a.m. before the Jayhawks and Bluejays will meet at 5 p.m. in a match televised on Nebraska Public Media. CU defeated KU 3-2 on Aug. 31 in Madison, Wis.