TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team captured their first win of the season and did so in thrilling fashion as the Bearcats took down crosstown rival Xavier, 3-2, Friday night inside Cintas Center on the XU campus. The Bearcats, who won the first two sets before needing the fifth-set to capture the victory, improved to 1-3 on the year while the Musketeers slipped to 3-2 overall. The match was the first of three to be played in the Xavier Tournament that also features Texas State and Western Michigan.
// NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 1-3 on the year while Xavier fell to 3-2
• The Bearcats now have 23 wins over XU, the most of any regional team (22 wins each against Miami and Dayton)
• UC leads the all-time series with XU, 23-11-0, and have won two in a row in the series
• Both Carly Nolan (17K-21D) and Jade Tingelhoff (51A-13D) recorded their second double-doubles of the season
• Erica Kostelac recorded a match and career-high 20 kills while adding a career-best seven digs as well
• Maya Muldrow tallied a career-high 11 kills, surpassing her previous best of nine she recorded in 2015
• Maya Eller recorded two service aces for the third time in four matches this year while adding a career-best 25 digs, which more than doubled her previous best of 12 (vs. Arkansas State last week)
• Muldrow had a team-high three blocks on the day while Jasmine Jones chipped in a pair of solo blocks as well
// SET BREAKDOWNS
Set 1: UC, 25-20
• The first set opened the way many of the sets the rest of the night would and that was with close back-and-forth scoring with neither team pulling out to a large lead. After falling behind and tying the match six times, the Bearcats finally captured the lead when Kostelac killed the ball and put the visitors on top, 9-8. That kill from Kostelac started a four-point run for the Bearcats (up 13-8) and gave them a lead they would not relinquish. Neither team put together more than a two-point run the rest of the way. Leading 23-18, Eller served back-to-back aces to give UC a 24-18 advantage and match point. The Musketeers scored twice to close the gap to 24-20 before Nolan smashed another kill and secured the first set for the Bearcats.
• Nolan led the way through the first set with four kills with Tingelhoff already having dished out 11 assists. In the set, Kostelac and Jones each added three kills with Jones chipping in two blocks. Also, Eller added eight digs which was already just four off her career best (12).
Set 2: UC, 25-22
• UC found itself down early in the second set before running off two points in a row to tie the match at 5-5. From there, the Bearcats added three more points to build an 8-5 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Similar to the first set, each team would manage two points in a row before trading single points as the set progressed. Then, leading 22-18, Elly Ogle killed the ball of the block and forced the hosts into a time-out. Coming out of the break, however, the Musketeers would win the next two points to make it 23-20 before Nolan recorded another big kill. After XU climbed back to a two-point deficit (24-22) and UC called time out, the Musketeers came out and saw their attack go long to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Nolan again had the hot hand as she tallied six kills while adding five digs. Nolan was one of five Bearcats that had at least three digs in the second set as Eller added eight more to break her career best and Emily Azzara posted four of her own. Tingelhoff filled the stat sheet once again as she tallied 10 assists, three digs, one service ace and one block assist.
Set 3: XU, 25-20
• Following the 10-minute intermission, the Bearcats grabbed the early lead before the hosts tied it at three and then ran off five points to build a 6-2 lead. From there, the Musketeers had the hot hand as the had runs of three in a row (up 12-7) and four in a row (up 18-10) before closing out the set with a 25-20 victory.
• Nolan had four kills and six digs to bring her into double figures in both categories and securing her second double-double of the year. Tingelhoff added 15 assists in the set while Kostelac lead all attackers with six kills in the frame. Muldrow chipped in five kills while Jones put two away and added a solo block.
Set 4: XU, 25-15
• The Bearcats looked to close out the match and jumped to an early lead as they held advantages of 5-3 and 10-8 before the Musketeers chipped away and tied the match at 11-11. From there, XU went on a nine-point run to open up the scoring and built a 20-11 lead before Muldrow's big center block halted the run. But, it was not enough as the two sides traded points and each had a three-point run before an XU kill closed the set with the Bearcats falling, 25-15, and forcing the decisive fifth set.
• Kostelac led the way as she recorded a set-high five kills and added four digs while Nolan added three and four, respectively. Eller chipped in four digs and a pair of assists while Tingelhoff secured eight assists and five digs in the set.
Set 5: UC, 15-10
• In the final set, XU took the opening point with a kill after a long rally before the Bearcats responded with three points in a row for a 3-1 lead. Each team scored points back and forth and saw UC on top, 7-4, with XU calling a time out. Following a Musketeer point, Muldrow went to work as she pounded down kills on back-to-back plays to build UC's advantage to 9-5. After an XU kill, the Bearcats responded once again and tallied four points in a row with the final point of the run seeing Muldrow tip down an overpass for the kill and a 13-6 lead. The Musketeers rattled off three points of their own to climb to within four (13-9) before a Kostelac kill ended the run. After an XU kill made it 14-10, Kostelac closed out the team's first win of 2017 with another kill to give the Bearcats the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2.
• Kostelac led all players with four kills in the final set while also adding an assist. Tingelhoff added seven assists and two digs while Sabrina Wolf tallied one kill and two digs in the winning effort.
// NEXT MATCH
The final two matches of the Xavier Tournament await the Bearcats Saturday with both taking place at the Cintas Center. First, UC will take on Texas State with a 10 a.m. first serve. Then, the Bearcats will close out the event with a 4 p.m. match against Western Michigan.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).
// EXPERIENCE UC
The University of Cincinnati department of athletics announced an initiative entitled Experience UC, geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events.
// NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 1-3 on the year while Xavier fell to 3-2
• The Bearcats now have 23 wins over XU, the most of any regional team (22 wins each against Miami and Dayton)
• UC leads the all-time series with XU, 23-11-0, and have won two in a row in the series
• Both Carly Nolan (17K-21D) and Jade Tingelhoff (51A-13D) recorded their second double-doubles of the season
• Erica Kostelac recorded a match and career-high 20 kills while adding a career-best seven digs as well
• Maya Muldrow tallied a career-high 11 kills, surpassing her previous best of nine she recorded in 2015
• Maya Eller recorded two service aces for the third time in four matches this year while adding a career-best 25 digs, which more than doubled her previous best of 12 (vs. Arkansas State last week)
• Muldrow had a team-high three blocks on the day while Jasmine Jones chipped in a pair of solo blocks as well
// SET BREAKDOWNS
Set 1: UC, 25-20
• The first set opened the way many of the sets the rest of the night would and that was with close back-and-forth scoring with neither team pulling out to a large lead. After falling behind and tying the match six times, the Bearcats finally captured the lead when Kostelac killed the ball and put the visitors on top, 9-8. That kill from Kostelac started a four-point run for the Bearcats (up 13-8) and gave them a lead they would not relinquish. Neither team put together more than a two-point run the rest of the way. Leading 23-18, Eller served back-to-back aces to give UC a 24-18 advantage and match point. The Musketeers scored twice to close the gap to 24-20 before Nolan smashed another kill and secured the first set for the Bearcats.
• Nolan led the way through the first set with four kills with Tingelhoff already having dished out 11 assists. In the set, Kostelac and Jones each added three kills with Jones chipping in two blocks. Also, Eller added eight digs which was already just four off her career best (12).
Set 2: UC, 25-22
• UC found itself down early in the second set before running off two points in a row to tie the match at 5-5. From there, the Bearcats added three more points to build an 8-5 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Similar to the first set, each team would manage two points in a row before trading single points as the set progressed. Then, leading 22-18, Elly Ogle killed the ball of the block and forced the hosts into a time-out. Coming out of the break, however, the Musketeers would win the next two points to make it 23-20 before Nolan recorded another big kill. After XU climbed back to a two-point deficit (24-22) and UC called time out, the Musketeers came out and saw their attack go long to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Nolan again had the hot hand as she tallied six kills while adding five digs. Nolan was one of five Bearcats that had at least three digs in the second set as Eller added eight more to break her career best and Emily Azzara posted four of her own. Tingelhoff filled the stat sheet once again as she tallied 10 assists, three digs, one service ace and one block assist.
Set 3: XU, 25-20
• Following the 10-minute intermission, the Bearcats grabbed the early lead before the hosts tied it at three and then ran off five points to build a 6-2 lead. From there, the Musketeers had the hot hand as the had runs of three in a row (up 12-7) and four in a row (up 18-10) before closing out the set with a 25-20 victory.
• Nolan had four kills and six digs to bring her into double figures in both categories and securing her second double-double of the year. Tingelhoff added 15 assists in the set while Kostelac lead all attackers with six kills in the frame. Muldrow chipped in five kills while Jones put two away and added a solo block.
Set 4: XU, 25-15
• The Bearcats looked to close out the match and jumped to an early lead as they held advantages of 5-3 and 10-8 before the Musketeers chipped away and tied the match at 11-11. From there, XU went on a nine-point run to open up the scoring and built a 20-11 lead before Muldrow's big center block halted the run. But, it was not enough as the two sides traded points and each had a three-point run before an XU kill closed the set with the Bearcats falling, 25-15, and forcing the decisive fifth set.
• Kostelac led the way as she recorded a set-high five kills and added four digs while Nolan added three and four, respectively. Eller chipped in four digs and a pair of assists while Tingelhoff secured eight assists and five digs in the set.
Set 5: UC, 15-10
• In the final set, XU took the opening point with a kill after a long rally before the Bearcats responded with three points in a row for a 3-1 lead. Each team scored points back and forth and saw UC on top, 7-4, with XU calling a time out. Following a Musketeer point, Muldrow went to work as she pounded down kills on back-to-back plays to build UC's advantage to 9-5. After an XU kill, the Bearcats responded once again and tallied four points in a row with the final point of the run seeing Muldrow tip down an overpass for the kill and a 13-6 lead. The Musketeers rattled off three points of their own to climb to within four (13-9) before a Kostelac kill ended the run. After an XU kill made it 14-10, Kostelac closed out the team's first win of 2017 with another kill to give the Bearcats the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2.
• Kostelac led all players with four kills in the final set while also adding an assist. Tingelhoff added seven assists and two digs while Sabrina Wolf tallied one kill and two digs in the winning effort.
// NEXT MATCH
The final two matches of the Xavier Tournament await the Bearcats Saturday with both taking place at the Cintas Center. First, UC will take on Texas State with a 10 a.m. first serve. Then, the Bearcats will close out the event with a 4 p.m. match against Western Michigan.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).
// EXPERIENCE UC
The University of Cincinnati department of athletics announced an initiative entitled Experience UC, geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events.