TicketsHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.. – University of Cincinnati volleyball fell in five sets Saturday night to conclude the NKU Invitational.
Despite the loss, the Bearcats won the tournament, the second straight tournament victory for UC as it won the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational last weekend. Jordan Thompson was named tournament MVP for the second time this year while Adria Oliver and Mackenzie Conner joined her on the all-tournament team.
// NOTES
• Thompson had a big night, totaling 35 kills on a .354 attack percentage. She had a double-double by adding in 14 digs
• Oliver was second on the team in kills with 11 and had a team-high five blocks
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 42 assists
• Conner had 20 digs
• Maria Mallon neared a double0double with eight kills and 12 digs
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: NKU 25-19
NKU started the night with a kill and led for most of the way in the first set. Kills by Oliver and Chrysanthi Stamatiou gave UC early leads, but NKU got up by three, 10-7, after two kills and an error. Down 13-10, the Stamatiou and Thompson brought the deficit to one with kills. Late blocks by the Norse and a serving error gave the first set to the home team
Set 2: UC 25-22
The Norse were able to score first again in the second, but the Bearcats would even the match. UC found itself down 9-5 but back-to-back kills by Thompson and one from Oliver tied the set at 12. Some Norse attack errors and a Stamatiou ace made it a three-point lead, 16-13. Thompson had two straight kills again later on to bring the set to 24-17 before Mallon ended the set on a kill
Set 3: NKU 29-27
The third set saw 18 ties, five lead changes and extra points with NKU taking the 2-1 match lead when it was all over. Kills from Thompson and Oliver and a Stamatious ace put UC ahead 7-4. That lead grew to 10-6 after a solo block by Damjana Cabarkapa. After a timeout, a Mallon kill and Conner service ace kept the momentum with the Bearcats. The Norse got help with some errors and tied the match 14-14 on a block. They then when ahead 17-15 before the Bearcats tied the set back up at 20-all after a Thompson ace. The final stretch was a nail-biter as neither team could pull away. Looking at set-point, NKU served an error. Then, Cabarkapa tied it at 24-24 on a block. Three kills by Thompson kept tying the set, at 25, 26 and 27. The Norse were finally able to pull away after two kills
Set 4: UC 25-23
Once again, the Bearcats answered back. This time, four Thompson kills and a block by her and Cabarkapa helped UC get out to a 9-6 advantage. NKU was able to work back to tie it later on and for a moment take a slight lead, but Cabarkapa made it 18-18 with a kill. The Norse then went ahead 21-19. However Stamatiou and Oliver switched the momentum with back-to-back blocks to tie the set at 21. UC got back in front after an Oliver kill and a Madison Waters kill. Yet another block, this time by Oliver and Heckenmueller, set up Oliver for a kill to take the match to the fifth set
Set 5: NKU 15-9
UC stumbled early in the fifth and could not come back to the Norse. Three-straight errors allowed NKU to get off to a good start. Late kills by Thompson helped keep it close, but two Norse kills put an end to the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats have a big week coming up. UC travels to Xavier on Thursday then host Bowling Green in the Fifth Third Arena home-opener on Saturday. The week concludes with a home match against Louisville on Sunday.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Despite the loss, the Bearcats won the tournament, the second straight tournament victory for UC as it won the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational last weekend. Jordan Thompson was named tournament MVP for the second time this year while Adria Oliver and Mackenzie Conner joined her on the all-tournament team.
// NOTES
• Thompson had a big night, totaling 35 kills on a .354 attack percentage. She had a double-double by adding in 14 digs
• Oliver was second on the team in kills with 11 and had a team-high five blocks
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 42 assists
• Conner had 20 digs
• Maria Mallon neared a double0double with eight kills and 12 digs
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: NKU 25-19
NKU started the night with a kill and led for most of the way in the first set. Kills by Oliver and Chrysanthi Stamatiou gave UC early leads, but NKU got up by three, 10-7, after two kills and an error. Down 13-10, the Stamatiou and Thompson brought the deficit to one with kills. Late blocks by the Norse and a serving error gave the first set to the home team
Set 2: UC 25-22
The Norse were able to score first again in the second, but the Bearcats would even the match. UC found itself down 9-5 but back-to-back kills by Thompson and one from Oliver tied the set at 12. Some Norse attack errors and a Stamatiou ace made it a three-point lead, 16-13. Thompson had two straight kills again later on to bring the set to 24-17 before Mallon ended the set on a kill
Set 3: NKU 29-27
The third set saw 18 ties, five lead changes and extra points with NKU taking the 2-1 match lead when it was all over. Kills from Thompson and Oliver and a Stamatious ace put UC ahead 7-4. That lead grew to 10-6 after a solo block by Damjana Cabarkapa. After a timeout, a Mallon kill and Conner service ace kept the momentum with the Bearcats. The Norse got help with some errors and tied the match 14-14 on a block. They then when ahead 17-15 before the Bearcats tied the set back up at 20-all after a Thompson ace. The final stretch was a nail-biter as neither team could pull away. Looking at set-point, NKU served an error. Then, Cabarkapa tied it at 24-24 on a block. Three kills by Thompson kept tying the set, at 25, 26 and 27. The Norse were finally able to pull away after two kills
Set 4: UC 25-23
Once again, the Bearcats answered back. This time, four Thompson kills and a block by her and Cabarkapa helped UC get out to a 9-6 advantage. NKU was able to work back to tie it later on and for a moment take a slight lead, but Cabarkapa made it 18-18 with a kill. The Norse then went ahead 21-19. However Stamatiou and Oliver switched the momentum with back-to-back blocks to tie the set at 21. UC got back in front after an Oliver kill and a Madison Waters kill. Yet another block, this time by Oliver and Heckenmueller, set up Oliver for a kill to take the match to the fifth set
Set 5: NKU 15-9
UC stumbled early in the fifth and could not come back to the Norse. Three-straight errors allowed NKU to get off to a good start. Late kills by Thompson helped keep it close, but two Norse kills put an end to the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats have a big week coming up. UC travels to Xavier on Thursday then host Bowling Green in the Fifth Third Arena home-opener on Saturday. The week concludes with a home match against Louisville on Sunday.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.