TicketsCINCINNATI – It was a historic night in Fifth Third Arena as University of Cincinnati redshirt-senior Jordan Thompson became the program's all-time leader in kills with her third kill in the second set during a 3-0 sweep of ECU to start American Athletic Conference play.
Thompson broke the record with her 2,138th career kill and ended the night at 2,146. She is one of only two Bearcats who have ever eclipsed the 2,000 kill threshold in their career. Julie DuPont was the previous record holder. She overtook the record with her 1,843rd kill on October 8, 2004. DuPont averaged 4.90 kills per set her senior season in 2004 and 4.69 in her career. In comparison, Thompson is currently at 5.83 kills per set this season and has a career kills per set average of 5.17. Thompson, who broke the AAC career record for kills last season and also holds the UC and AAC single-match kills records, needed eight kills in the match to claim the coveted title and finished the night with 16. The US National Team member who led the nation in kills and points through the 2018 season entered the match ranked third and first in kills per set and points per set, respectively, in the nation this season.
// NOTES
• Maria Mallon led the team in all facets. She had 17 kills, 13 digs and three aces
• Thompson added ten digs and two aces to her 16 kills
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 43 assists
• Mackenzie Conner and Karoline Fauske also had ten digs in the match
• Adria Oliver led with two blocks
• Fauske and Oliver helped the offense with seven kills each with both hitting above .300 in the match
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-14
A kill by Damjana Cabarkapa began UC's scoring in the first set and the Bearcats never looked back. They scored the next three points on a Thompson kill, Fasuke kill and Mallon ace. The lead grew to six, 12-6, on a Conner ace then to eight after another Thompson kill. Later on, two Oliver kills and one by Mallon forced an ECU timeout as UC led 22-11. Oliver made it set-point with a kill, but the Pirates would stay alive on a kill and a block. However, Mallon followed those two ECU points with a kill to end the set.
Set 2: UC 25-20
The Pirates were able to keep the second set closer, but the Bearcats once again retained the lead the whole way. Mallon got things started with back-to-back aces and later gave UC a three-point lead after a kill. ECU took the lead for a short time at 12-10, but a Thompson kill and later a Fauske ace, another Thompson kill and yet another by Mallon tied the set at 15. Thompson put the Bearcats out ahead with a kill. Out of a late timeout, Mallon, Cabarkapa and Fauske gave the Bearcats three-straight points, all on kills, to lead 23-18. Mallon made it set point and Fauske brought the set to a close.
Set 3: UC 25-16
UC scored 19 of its 25 points off of kills in the final set to complete the match sweep. In the beginning, ECU kept it close. However, Mallon broke a 7-7 tie with back-to-back kills and Cabarkapa followed with a solo block. Oliver and Thompson teamed up for a block later on to put UC's advantage at 15-9. The Bearcats were the first to 20 as Heckenmueller dropped in a sly kill before a Thompson kill, Thompson ace, Mallon kill and ECU error grew the lead to 21-11 after the run. On her history-making night, Thompson secured the team's victory with one more kill.
// UP NEXT
UC travels to take on Wichita State on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST. The Bearcats return home next Friday, October 4 for a noon match with UCF
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Thompson broke the record with her 2,138th career kill and ended the night at 2,146. She is one of only two Bearcats who have ever eclipsed the 2,000 kill threshold in their career. Julie DuPont was the previous record holder. She overtook the record with her 1,843rd kill on October 8, 2004. DuPont averaged 4.90 kills per set her senior season in 2004 and 4.69 in her career. In comparison, Thompson is currently at 5.83 kills per set this season and has a career kills per set average of 5.17. Thompson, who broke the AAC career record for kills last season and also holds the UC and AAC single-match kills records, needed eight kills in the match to claim the coveted title and finished the night with 16. The US National Team member who led the nation in kills and points through the 2018 season entered the match ranked third and first in kills per set and points per set, respectively, in the nation this season.
// NOTES
• Maria Mallon led the team in all facets. She had 17 kills, 13 digs and three aces
• Thompson added ten digs and two aces to her 16 kills
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 43 assists
• Mackenzie Conner and Karoline Fauske also had ten digs in the match
• Adria Oliver led with two blocks
• Fauske and Oliver helped the offense with seven kills each with both hitting above .300 in the match
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-14
A kill by Damjana Cabarkapa began UC's scoring in the first set and the Bearcats never looked back. They scored the next three points on a Thompson kill, Fasuke kill and Mallon ace. The lead grew to six, 12-6, on a Conner ace then to eight after another Thompson kill. Later on, two Oliver kills and one by Mallon forced an ECU timeout as UC led 22-11. Oliver made it set-point with a kill, but the Pirates would stay alive on a kill and a block. However, Mallon followed those two ECU points with a kill to end the set.
Set 2: UC 25-20
The Pirates were able to keep the second set closer, but the Bearcats once again retained the lead the whole way. Mallon got things started with back-to-back aces and later gave UC a three-point lead after a kill. ECU took the lead for a short time at 12-10, but a Thompson kill and later a Fauske ace, another Thompson kill and yet another by Mallon tied the set at 15. Thompson put the Bearcats out ahead with a kill. Out of a late timeout, Mallon, Cabarkapa and Fauske gave the Bearcats three-straight points, all on kills, to lead 23-18. Mallon made it set point and Fauske brought the set to a close.
Set 3: UC 25-16
UC scored 19 of its 25 points off of kills in the final set to complete the match sweep. In the beginning, ECU kept it close. However, Mallon broke a 7-7 tie with back-to-back kills and Cabarkapa followed with a solo block. Oliver and Thompson teamed up for a block later on to put UC's advantage at 15-9. The Bearcats were the first to 20 as Heckenmueller dropped in a sly kill before a Thompson kill, Thompson ace, Mallon kill and ECU error grew the lead to 21-11 after the run. On her history-making night, Thompson secured the team's victory with one more kill.
// UP NEXT
UC travels to take on Wichita State on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST. The Bearcats return home next Friday, October 4 for a noon match with UCF
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.