TicketsAug. 31, 2012
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team recorded a season-high attacking percentage, but fell to New Mexico State University 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 18-25, 7-25) in the opening match of the La Quinta Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M.
"Obviously by the score of the first set, we do some really nice things" said head coach Molly Alvey. "Our problem is sustaining our play and putting together a full set from point one to point 25. Once we can figure out how to put it together as a team, we are going to be really good."
The Bearcats (0-4) had 40 kills in 105 attempts for a .219 attacking percentage. The total is a season-high for Cincinnati, which registered a .423 mark in the opening set.
UC got off to a quick start in the first set, jumping out to an early 10-5 lead. After NMSU (4-0) tied the set at 5-5, senior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) sent a kill over the net to begin a five-point run for the Bearcats. A service ace by junior Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) and two blocks by senior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) gave Cincinnati the five point lead. A dominant Bearcat offense added another four-point run later in the set, with two Refenes kills pushing the lead to 15-7. A kill from senior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) served as set point for the Bearcats and ended the first stanza with a 25-17 tally. Cincinnati concluded the opening set with an impressive .423 attacking percentage and 13 kills. Refenes totaled four kills and two blocks while sophomore Madison Lang (Bloomfield Mich./Florida Atlantic) tallied 11 assists, two digs and 1 block.
The Aggies took control early in the second set, using several kills by Desiree Scott to take an 18-13 advantage. The Bearcats responded with two kills by Refenes and sophomore Me'Ashah Nicholson (Shiloh, Ill./Belleville Althoff) to bring the score to 18-16. Cincinnati continued to claw its way back, using a Nicholson kill and a New Mexico State attacking error to tie the set at 22-22, but it would not be enough. The Aggies finished with three consecutive kills to win the set 25-23 and tie the score at 1 set apiece.
New Mexico State used its second-set momentum to win the third set 25-18. With the score tied at 15-15, the Aggies employed a six point run to take a 21-16 lead. The set closed on a kill from NMSU's Lauren Loerch, her third of the period. Cincinnati was paced in the third set by three kills from Scott and two service aces from freshman Mary Crema (Loveland, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame).
NMSU was in the driver's seat throughout the fourth set. After the Bearcats had climbed to within three points at 9-6, the Aggies rattled off 13 consecutive points to put the match out of reach for Cincinnati. NMSU's Bradley Nash served up an ace on match point to end the set at 25-7 and the match at 3-1.
Scott finished the match with 11 kills and nine digs, one shy of her first double-double of the season. Nicholson added nine kills and registered a .500 attacking percentage to lead UC.
The Bearcats are back in action with two matches on Sept. 1. Cincinnati will face Northwestern at noon and Drake at 6:30 p.m. to conclude the La Quinta Invitational.
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