TicketsSept. 1, 2012
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team lost to Northwestern 3-1 (11-25, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25) in the second match of the La Quinta Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M. Senior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 kills and 10 digs while also appearing in her 400th career set.
The Bearcats also picked up strong performances from seniors Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central), Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Rachel Rohlfs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Grand Valley State). Turner and Hayden registered 12 and 10 kills, respectively, and Rohlfs added a career-high 41 assists.
The deciding fourth set was a back-and-forth affair, and neither team could produce more than a three point lead along the way. The Bearcats found themselves down 23-20 late in the set before using two kills by senior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) and Scott and a service ace from freshman Mary Crema (Loveland, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) to tie the set at 23-23. Northwestern responded, however, with a kill and a UC service error to end the set 25-23 and win the match 3-1.
UC picked up its set victory in the second, a 25-22 win. The teams traded points throughout, and a kill from senior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) tied the score at 15-15. Northwestern won the next three points to grab an 18-15 lead, but the Bearcats held close. While trailing 21-20, UC used two kills from Scott to surge to a 24-21 lead. Two points later, senior Emily Hayden sent match point over the net for a kill to give the Bearcats the 25-22 margin.
The second set also marked the 400th career set played for Jordanne Scott who becomes the only active Bearcat to reach the milestone.
Northwestern started strong in the first set, opening with a 5-0 lead. A kill by sophomore Me'Ashah Nicholson (Shiloh, Ill./Belleville Althoff) finally put the Bearcats on the board at 5-1, but NU closed out the stanza with four consecutive points for a 25-11 tally. Cincinnati registered two kills apiece from Turner, Hayden and freshman Amelia Wegman (Aurora, Ill./Rosary) to pace the offense in the first set.
The Bearcats fought throughout the third set, but fell 25-18 to give the Wildcats a 2-1 match lead. With the set tied at 5-5, Northwestern scored four straight points to bring the score to 9-5. Cincinnati was unable to make up the margin the rest of the set. Scott and Refenes each recorded four kills in the set.
The Bearcats will finish the La Quinta Invitational this evening with a match against Drake at 6:30 p.m. ET.
-GoBEARCATS.com-