When USF volleyball coach Jolene Shepardson says she wants a family atmosphere around her program, you know it’s not a well-rehearsed slogan or a tired cliche.
As the Bulls prepare for the Road 2 Tampa Bay Volleyball Invitational — joining the Florida Gators, Penn State Nittany Lions and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for the Aug. 25-26 season-opening event at downtown Tampa’s Amalie Arena and USF’s Yuengling Center — there’s constant evidence of family ties around USF’s program.
And it goes much deeper than the close-knit nature of its players.
Shepardson is the mother of five — ages 11 to 3 — and the kids are a constant presence around the court.