TicketsOct. 7, 2011
New Brunswick, N.J. - It took four sets, but the University of Cincinnati volleyball team defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 3-1 Friday evening (22-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-16).
With the win, the team remains undefeated in conference play. Junior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind. /Lawrence North) led the match with 13 kills and a .435 hitting percentage. She also had two aces, seven digs and 3.5 blocks.
Senior Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) was close behind with 12 kills, two aces and nine digs. Freshman Caylin Mahoney (Fort Worth, Texas/Keller Central) led the match with 40 assists. She also had three aces and nine digs in the win. Sophomore Emily Macintyre (Muncie, Ind. /Yorktown) led the team with 13 digs in the match.
As a team, the Bearcats were aggressive on defense at the net with 15 blocks. This number was led by junior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich. /Lutheran Westland), who recorded 4.5 total blocks, including seven block assists.
Scott started the fourth set with a booming kill near the attack line for a 2-1 lead. Turner and Harpenau each recorded kills for the 7-5 lead. Scott and Refenes then got the straight-down block and Mahoney recorded another ace for a score of 14-8. Thanks to Harpenau's serve and kills from Hayden, Scott and Refenes, the team went on a 7-1 run for a score of 21-11. After a long rally with plenty of hustle from both teams, junior Emily Hayden (Lousiville, Ky. /Assumption) and Mahoney recorded yet another block to bring the set win closer at 23-13. The Scarlet Knights began to fight though, and brought the score to 23-16 before Harpenau got a kill to give the Bearcats the match point. The match ended accordingly with a Hayden/Refenes block on the outside for a fourth set win 25-16.
To start set three, Refenes recorded a block, ace and a dig for a Bearcat lead 6-4. Defensive plays from MacIntyre and execution from the front row allowed the Bearcats to stay ahead 15-8. The Scarlet Knights then used a 4-1 run to get closer 16-12. The Bearcats answered back on the serve of Refenes for a 4-0 run of their own at 20-12. Hayden and Mahoney teamed up again for a block at 22-13. Junior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y. /Wayne Central) then recorded a kill on the outside to bring the Bearcats' set point. The set was taken with a Hayden kill 25-15.
The team hit a blistering .423 percentage in the third set, holding Rutgers to a .034 percentage. The first Bearcat points of the second set were earned by Refenes on two kills. Scott then came around to the middle for a kill for a lead 3-2. The Bearcats used the serve of Scott to go on a 6-1 run for a score of 9-3. Mahoney then recorded a kill and Scott and Refenes teamed up for a block to extend the lead 14-7. Turner got the kill to keep the Bearcats ahead 17-10. Another block was recorded when Harpenau read her hitter well and teamed up with Hayden at 19-12. Harpenau then changed up the tempo and dropped a tip on the sideline 22-14. After a Rutgers timeout, Mahoney got an ace to bring the set win closer 23-15. The set ended with a Scott kill 25-17.
Scott started the match with two kills for a quick Bearcat lead 5-3. Mahoney and Hayden then teamed up for a block on the right side to maintain the lead 8-6. The Scarlet Knights then began to fight back and gained the lead 13-12. It wouldn't be until 19-18 when the Bearcats came back ahead with a Harpenau kill, a Refenes/Mahoney block, and a solo Hayden block. Refenes then put down a kill for a 20-19 lead. After two aces from Rutgers, the Bearcats began to see the first set slip away 24-21. Scott brought the momentum back to the Cincinnati side with a kill. The set ultimately ended with a Bearcat overpass that was converted into a Rutgers kill 25-22. On paper, the Bearcats beat the Scarlet Knights in almost every category. The team hit .171 percentage compared to Rutgers' .030 percentage. They also out-blocked the Scarlet Knights 3 to 1.
The Bearcat volleyball team will be in action again Sunday when it travels to Orange, New Jersey to take on the Pirates of Seton Hall at 2 p.m.