TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision, 25-23, 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, to No. 20 Illinois on Friday in the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge at Fifth Third Arena.
UC senior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) led the Bearcat attack with 18 kills and a .350 hitting percentage. Senior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) added15 kills and three block assists. Senior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) posted 13 kills and a team-high four block assists.
"I'm generally happy with our performance," UC head coach Molly Alvey said. "We were more consistent offensively and defensively. We seemed more prepared from start to finish. But we still need to eliminate point runs by our opponent.
"We talk a lot about getting your job done. In the third set, there were some opportunities that presented themselves and we stepped up and did our job. In the other sets we were close but did not execute in important situations."
UC came out strong to the start the match, scoring eight of the first 11 points and later building a 15-9 advantage. The Illini responded however, posting four consecutive points and seven of the next eight to catch the Bearcats at 16-16. The set then saw six consecutive ties before the Illini won 25-23.
The second set saw Illinois break open a 9-9 tie with four consecutive points and seven of eight to lead 15-10. After UC pulled to within 17-14, the Illini won eight of the next 11 points to earn a 25-17 win.
Scott accounted for UC's final three points of the third set with two kills and a service ace to help push the Bearcats to a 27-25 win. Refenes posted five of her 13 kills in the third set.
"Jordanne is getting more into a groove and has developed some confidence in her scoring and has increased her consistency," Alvey said.
Illinois Jocelynn Birks posted a.444 attack percentage and registered nine of her match-high 25 kills in the fifth set to give the Illini a 25-22 win.
The Bearcats will take on No. 11 Purdue on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the tournament finale. The Boilermakers suffered a 25-21, 25-17, 25-23 loss to No. 24 Louisville in the event opener Friday. Louisville will battle Purdue in the first match Saturday, starting at 4:30 p.m.