TicketsOct. 14, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky.---Louisville's Tatyana Kolesnikova tallied a match-high 17 kills on .387 hitting leading the Cardinals to a three-game win over Cincinnati in BIG EAST volleyball action on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinal defense limited Cincinnati to a .167 hitting output in the match-up, winning by scores of 30-23, 30-27, 30-21.
The Bearcats got an outstanding performance from sophomore Jessie Nevitt who led her team with 11 kills, while hitting .429. Myanna Hellsten tacked on 10 kills for the Bearcats who fall to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the BIG EAST.
Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Ana Yartseva-Stewart was also instrumental in the victory for the Cards (13-6, 6-1 BIG EAST), recording 12 kills on just 19 swings for a .579 hitting percentage. Stewart added four blocks defensively, as did Lecia Brown while Stephanie Marsh led all players with five.
The Bearcats couldn't have scripted a worse start to the match as the Cardinals scored the first eight points of game one and 11 of the first 13. Louisville remained in control, leading 19-12 when Justine Linda ripped her first of four aces. Cincinnati had an answer as two kills by Hellsten sparked a 5-0 Bearcat run that drew the visitors within two. Later, UC was able to get within two when a Svetlana Dukule committed a service error to make it 23-21. That would be about the end of the Bearcats' hopes as Louisville scored seven of the next nine points to take the 30-23 win. UC hit just .149 in the frame to U of L's .292.
Cincinnati didn't seem fazed by the one-game deficit at the outset of game two, as it raced to a 4-1 lead. Still leading by one, the Bearcats fell victim to a 5-0 Cardinal run that pushed the hosts up 11-7. The score remained tight until a 6-1 surge by the Bearcats pushed the visiting team in front 24-20. The turning point of game two came next as U of L coach Leonid Yelin called his second timeout. Out of the break, a Cincinnati service error and consecutive aces by Landi sparked the go-ahead run for Louisville. The Cardinals scored seven in a row to go up 27-24, and then finished off the Bearcats on Kolesnikova's 15th kill of the afternoon. Louisville earned the game victory despite being outhit by a .257 to .200 mark.
The Bearcats battled again in the third game, but the Cardinals were just too much. Louisville hit a match-best .385 in the game, while limiting UC to only .114. The score was tight early with Cincinnati leading as late as 14-11 following consecutive Hellsten kills. The score would show a tie for the final time at 16-all when Louisville went to work, using a 9-3 run to force the Bearcats second timeout at 24-19. Down the stretch, UC could only muster a pair of Hellsten kills as Louisville scored six of the final eight points to seal the win.
Rui Liu turned in an outstanding defense performance, leading all players with 17 digs. Jaime Frey did her part for UC, leading the team with 16 digs. U of L's Samantha Dabbs won the battle of the setters, registering 46 assists and adding five kills. Noel Olson had 35 assists for Cincinnati.
The Bearcats will try to get back on track, opening a five-match homestand on Tuesday vs. IUPUI. Action from Fifth Third Arena gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
Notes
- Series record: Louisville leads, 28-15.
- Louisville extended its win streak over the Bearcats to three.
- Noel Olson moved within 35 assists of second place on the UC career assists chart. She is chasing Paige Pees (1988-91).