TicketsAug. 25, 2012
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati fell to No. 15 University of Tennessee 3-1 (12-25, 25-23, 19-25, 14-25) as part of the ComCast Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. The Bearcats were paced by senior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) who finished with 13 kills for 3.25 kills per set and a .423 attacking percentage.
"It is very clear to see the potential of our team in spurts" said head coach Molly Alvey. "We need to be more consistent from start to finish and with our first contact. We have a really great touch on the ball with our passing, but it needs to be at all times. Also our serving must be better moving forward."
Cincinnati (0-2) won its first set of the young season in the second, a 25-23 triumph. With the set tied at 5-5, a service ace by freshman Amelia Wegman (Aurora, Ill./Rosary) and two kills by Turner put UC ahead 9-5. The Lady Vols tied the set 19-19 on a UC service error, but it was all Bearcats to close it out. A kill by Wegman put the Bearcats up 20-19 and consecutive points from senior Becca Refenes (Westland Mich./Lutheran Westland) on a block and a kill pushed the lead to 22-19. On a 24-23 set point for the Bearcats, Tennessee's Bianca Arellano served the ball into the net to give UC its first set victory of the season and tie the match at one set apiece.
Tennessee (1-1) was in the driver's seat for the much of the third set, but Cincinnati was never far behind. The teams traded points through the beginning of the stanza until a four-point rally from the Lady Vols put them ahead 10-7. The Bearcats clawed their way back to a one point deficit with a kill by Wegman to bring the score to 12-11. Turner and senior Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) each had big showings in the third set with four and three kills, respectively, but it was not enough to outlast Tennessee who won the set 25-19.
In the fourth set, Tennessee jumped out to a 5-1 advantage and held the lead for the duration. A block by UT's Kayla Jeter and DeeDee Harrison ended the set at 25-14 to give the Lady Vols the match victory. Nicholson recorded three kills in the set for Cincinnati.
The Bearcats got off to a shaky start to open the match, falling 25-12 in the first set. A series of UC errors combined with strong kills from UT's Tiffany Baker ballooned the lead and gave the Lady Vols the first set advantage.
UC is back on the court this evening when it closes out the ComCast Lady Vol Classic against No. 12 Iowa State at 5 p.m. Live stats can be found at www.utsports.com.
-GoBEARCATS.com-