JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - Tizi Puljiz hit .600 with seven kills to lead the South Florida volleyball team past Furman, 25-16, 25-18, 25-20, Friday afternoon at the Dolphin Classic at Historic Swisher Gym in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Paladins drop to 4-3 overall with the loss, while South Florida improves to 3-4.

Senior Neci Harris and sophomore Mikaela Schultz each tallied six kills to pace Furman, while junior Sarah Turner recorded a team-high 12 assists.  Sophomore Maya Mrus led the Paladins with eight digs, and Andrea Aceveda posted four service aces. 

Marta Cvitkovic added seven kills for the Bulls, and Eke Denessen led the squad with 13 assists.  CC Clausen registered 12 digs, and Alexis Williams added 10 digs for South Florida.  Amiree Hendricks-Walker posted a game-high five solo blocks.

South Florida jumped out to an early 9-3 led in set one, but the Paladins rallied back with an 8-4 run fueled by a service ace by Ella Abraham and three service aces from Aceveda to cut the deficit to two at 13-11.  The Bulls stretched their lead back to 22-12 before freshman Bella Tolone registered a kill and service ace to keep Furman in the set.  Following an additional ace from Harris, South Florida won the set on an attack error, 25-16.

The Bulls again took an early lead in set two, building a 10-5 advantage.  The Paladins stayed within five at 15-10 off a service ace from Harris and multiple errors by South Florida, and following a timeout at 20-14, Furman reeled off three-straight points with a kill by Harris and two attack errors by the Bulls to stay within three at 20-17.  A kill by Mrus kept Furman in the set at 21-18, but South Florida scored the final four points to take the set, 25-18.

Furman jumped out to a 7-4 led in the third set, ignited by an early kill and service ace from Schultz.  The teams battled through ties at 7-all and settled at 10 apiece before Furman went on a 5-0 run, including two kills from Schultz, to lead 15-10.  South Florida then went on a 7-0 run of its own take a 17-15 advantage.  The teams were again tied at 18, but the Bulls won the next two points to gain the momentum and win the set, 25-20.

The Paladins conclude play at the Dolphin Classic on Saturday when they square off against Long Island at 11 a.m.