TicketsSept. 28, 2012
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team swept the University of Pittsburgh 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-19) in a BIG EAST matchup on Friday night. Senior Becca Refenes recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs while adding three blocks and a .355 attacking percentage.
"Overall we did a great job of controlling the tempo of the match with our first contact" said head coach Molly Alvey. "Our serving continues to get more confident and consistent as a whole. Individually, Becca Refenes had a phenomenal night for us. Attacking-wise she looked extremely consistent and her blocking numbers don't fully reflect what a great job she did at the net tonight. She really slowed down the balls and funneled the balls to our defense very well. Emily Hayden and Me'Ashah Nicholson both swung well tonight and I think our pin players, Jordanne Scott and Mia Wegman, did a nice job as well. Additionally Emily MacIntyre did a great job controlling the tempo for us."
The Bearcats (4-11, 2-1 BIG EAST) topped the Panthers (10-7, 1-2 BIG EAST) in most statistical categories, including kills, assists, digs, and attacking percentage. UC registered 42 kills while holding Pitt to a mere 20 and not allowing more than nine Panther kills in any game. Pittsburgh was also limited to a .009 hitting clip, the lowest of any opponent this season for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati was led in kills by Refenes with 14, senior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) with nine, senior Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) with seven and freshman Amelia Wegman (Aurora, Ill./Rosary) with six. Senior Rachel Rohlfs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Grand Valley State) chipped in 33 assists and junior Emily MacIntyre (Muncis, Ind./Yorktown) had 21 digs.
Cincinnati got off to a hot start in the first game, winning 25-9 to open play. The Bearcats strung together three runs of four consecutive points, including the final run that saw two kills by Refenes and a block by Scott and sophomore Me'Ashah Nicholson (Shiloh, Ill./Belleville Althoff) to bring the score to 22-8. On set point, Refenes hit her fifth kill of the game to give UC the early 1-0 advantage. Scott recorded a very productive game for the Bearcats with four kills, two blocks, one ace and a .400 attacking percentage. Rohlfs added 11 assists in the set. Overall, Cincinnati outhit the Panthers 12 kills to five and recorded a .357 hitting clip to Pitt's -.108.
The Bearcats kept the momentum rolling with a 25-17 victory in game No. 2. UC used a kill by Hayden, back-to-back kills from Wegman and a Pitt attack error to jump out to an 11-6 lead. With a 13-8 advantage, Cincinnati scored five of the next six points to grow its lead to 18-9. The Bearcats maintained their steady lead until a kill by Scott ended the set at 25-17. Wegman and Hayden each recorded four kills in the game for UC.
UC showcased its resiliency in the third game, coming from behind to win 25-19. Cincinnati found itself down early when Pittsburgh used six straight points to take a 12-5 lead. The Bearcats responded with a four point run of their own, including a kill from Refenes and two from Wegman, to cut the deficit to 12-9. Cincinnati continued to claw its way back into the set, finally tying the score at 17-17 on a kill by Nicholson. The Bearcats closed out the game scoring seven of the last eight points and scored the match winner on a block from Refenes and Hayden.
The Bearcats will head to Tampa, Fla., next to play the USF Bulls. The match will take place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30.
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