LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2026) – The University of South Florida was back on the court for day two of the Bluegrass Battle against No. 3 Kentucky on Saturday. Amelia Wass de Czege produced a career high in blocks, but the Bulls (0-2) fell to the Wildcats (3-1) 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-19).
Wass de Czege led the South Florida defense with a career-high seven blocks and recorded her first career service ace. Sofija Djordjevic posted a career-high 11 digs, along with two assists and one ace. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva dished out 24 assists, marking her second consecutive match with at least 24 assists.
South Florida jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set. The Wildcats went on a run of their own and claimed a 6-3 lead. The Bulls kept fighting and traded points with the Wildcats until the set was tied at 17-17. Kentucky won the first set 25-18. As in the first set, South Florida and Kentucky traded points to start the second. The Wildcats used a 5-0 run to take a 14-9 lead midway through the second. UK won the second set 25-16.
Kentucky opened the third set with three straight points. South Florida stayed composed and rattled off a 5-0 run. The Bulls took a 14-10 lead, prompting the Wildcats to call a timeout. South Florida continued to battle No. 3 Kentucky until the end. UK won the third set 25-19.
Note-A-Bulls
• Amelia Wass de Czege led the South Florida defense with a career-high seven blocks and recorded her first career service ace.
• Sofija Djordjevic posted a career-high 11 digs.
• Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded her second match with at least 24 assists.
Up Next
The Bulls close out the Bluegrass Battle on Sunday. South Florida takes on Utah State at noon.
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About South Florida Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her seventh season at the helm of her alma mater in 2026. Named head coach on January 8, 2020, as a player she helped lead the Bulls to two conference championships and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances. As head coach, she led the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 for the first time since she was a player in 2002 and guided USF to the 2024 AAC regular-season championship, earning her first Coach of the Year Honor. In 2023, the Bulls won the American Conference East Division, made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, and advanced to the Fab Four to mark the longest postseason run in program history.
South Florida Volleyball has won nine Player of the Year honors, most recently with Maria Clara Andrade winning American Conference honors in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025. The Bulls have also earned four Setter of the Year honors, most recently with Caroline Dykes being recognized in 2024.
South Florida volleyball has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and won 13 conference titles since the program’s inception in 1972. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), located adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus in Tampa.