TicketsDuPont Leads Bearcats Past UMBC
Senior records 18 kills, 13 digs in win
Contact: Shawn Sell
9/4/2004
Julie DuPont had 18 kills in Saturday's win over UMBC. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Despite a resilient effort by UMBC, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team stretched its record to 2-0 with a three-game sweep of the Retrievers on Saturday as part of the Vernon Manor Bearcat Invitational.
Julie DuPont led an offense that hit just .192, with an 18 kill, 13 dig effort that also saw the reigning Conference USA Player of the Year hit .552 for the contest. Rachel Torblaa added 10 kills for UC, while freshman Natalie Dossman added a match-high 14 digs. The Bearcats were victorious by scores of 30-23, 30-15, 30-28 in dropping the Retrievers to 0-3 on the season.
The Bearcat defense did the job, limiting UMBC to just .045 hitting for the match, including -.079 in the second game. Jocelyn Teoh paced the Retriever offense with 10 kills and Christine Skala led the defense with 10 digs.
With the win, the Bearcats have stretched their home winning streak to 16 matches, dating back to last season. A victory on Saturday night against Kent State will allow UC to tie the school record for consecutive home wins with 17.
The first game was hotly contested, featuring six ties and three lead changes. The Bearcats weren?t able to shake the Retrievers as they led by no more than two for the early part of the frame. Back-to-back kills by DuPont built the Bearcat lead to seven at 23-16. UMBC answered with three straight points, but three in a row by the home team rebuilt the advantage to seven. UC had a comfortable 28-20 lead that led to a Retriever time out that did the trick, as the visitors cut the lead to six. But a DuPont kill put the finishing touches on the game one win.
The second stanza was a dominating performance by the Bearcats as they raced out to a 6-0 lead and were never seriously challenged. UC hit a match-high .312 for the game, limiting UMBC to -.079. DuPont tallied seven kills during the game, as UC pulled ahead by as much as 15 and cruised to a 30-15 win.
The end of the third and final game showed the resilience of the visitors as they led early and fought the Bearcats hard to the conclusion. UMBC held an early 6-3 lead and still held the edge at 10-8. But four straight Bearcat kills, two by DuPont and one each by Leslie Newell and Myanna Hellsten put the Bearcats ahead, 12-10.
UC pushed its lead as high as six at 26-20 after back-to-back kills by Jenny Custer. UMBC responded with a 4-0 spurt and got to within a point at 27-26. The Retrievers forced a tie at 28, forcing UC head coach Reed Sunahara to call a timeout. The break worked as a Newell kill and a Retriever error wrapped up the match for UC.
The Bearcats? new two-setter offense seemed to do the trick once again, as Noel Olson registered 22 assists and Custer added 20. UMBC setter Megan Gross handed out 22 assists.
Kent State 3, Bradley 0
Three Kent State players reached double figure kills as the Golden Flashes swept Bradley in the Vernon Manor Bearcat Invitational.
The win by Kent State sets up a battle for the championship trophy at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The Golden Flashes were victorious by scores of 30-19, 30-20, 30-13.