TicketsWICHITA, Kan. – University of Cincinnati volleyball continued to perform strong in conference play as the team swept Wichita State on the road Sunday afternoon.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 18 kills on .429 hitting
• Maria Mallon was just shy of a double-double with ten kills and nine digs
• Adria Oliver hit .615 with nine kills
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 41 assists
• Mackenzie Conner led with 16 digs
• Damjana Cabarkapa had a team-high two blocks
• Karoline Fauske also neared a double-double. She finished with seven kills and seven digs
• Kerstin FIcker had three of the team's seven aces
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-27
The Bearcats got off to a 2-0 start on a Thompson kill and attack error by the Shockers, but the set was close the majority of the way. Wichita State put together a 3-0 run to lead 9-7 early. UC answered with a 4-0 run thanks to a Mallon kill, Cabarkapa and Fauske block, Shockers error and Mallon ace to take a 13-11 advantage. UC got hot late, scoring the final six of seven points in the set and ten of the last 12. The final five points all went to the Bearcats starting with a Wichita State error and followed by an ace from Heckenmueller and three-straight Mallon kills.
Set 2: UC 25-12
More runs allowed UC to control the second set from start to finish. Kills by Oliver and Mallon followed by an attack error put the Bearcats up 5-4. After Wichita State tied the set at five, UC scored four-straight. Those points came via another Oliver kill, Thompson kill and two Shockers mistakes. The lead grew to 14-7 with a big 5-0 scoring streak. It started with two Mallon kills and a kill by Fauske. One error and another Mallon point off a kill gave UC the big lead. A Thompson kill, Fauske kill, Ficker ace and Oliver kill put the lead at ten, 19-9. Three-straight UC points from a Thompson kill and two Wichita State errors ended the set.
Set 3: UC 25-22
Wichita State was able to put together a 5-0 run in set three to lead 10-6, but Cabarkapa put a stop to the streak with a kill and UC answered right back. Another Cabarkapa kill, Shockers error, Ficker ace, Oliver kill and Thompson kill gave the Bearcats a run of their own and tied the set at 12, forcing a Wichita State timeout. With the set tied at 17, Thompson connected on three-straight kills to put the Bearcats back in front. The Shockers were able to tie the set back up at 20, but another 3-0 run by UC on a Fauske kill, Ficker ace and Oliver kill kept UC ahead. One more Thompson kill made it match-point. A service error made the match final.
// UP NEXT
The quest for a conference title continues when the two top teams in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll meet on Friday. UC will take on UCF for a noon match at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats will then host USF on Sunday at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 18 kills on .429 hitting
• Maria Mallon was just shy of a double-double with ten kills and nine digs
• Adria Oliver hit .615 with nine kills
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 41 assists
• Mackenzie Conner led with 16 digs
• Damjana Cabarkapa had a team-high two blocks
• Karoline Fauske also neared a double-double. She finished with seven kills and seven digs
• Kerstin FIcker had three of the team's seven aces
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-27
The Bearcats got off to a 2-0 start on a Thompson kill and attack error by the Shockers, but the set was close the majority of the way. Wichita State put together a 3-0 run to lead 9-7 early. UC answered with a 4-0 run thanks to a Mallon kill, Cabarkapa and Fauske block, Shockers error and Mallon ace to take a 13-11 advantage. UC got hot late, scoring the final six of seven points in the set and ten of the last 12. The final five points all went to the Bearcats starting with a Wichita State error and followed by an ace from Heckenmueller and three-straight Mallon kills.
Set 2: UC 25-12
More runs allowed UC to control the second set from start to finish. Kills by Oliver and Mallon followed by an attack error put the Bearcats up 5-4. After Wichita State tied the set at five, UC scored four-straight. Those points came via another Oliver kill, Thompson kill and two Shockers mistakes. The lead grew to 14-7 with a big 5-0 scoring streak. It started with two Mallon kills and a kill by Fauske. One error and another Mallon point off a kill gave UC the big lead. A Thompson kill, Fauske kill, Ficker ace and Oliver kill put the lead at ten, 19-9. Three-straight UC points from a Thompson kill and two Wichita State errors ended the set.
Set 3: UC 25-22
Wichita State was able to put together a 5-0 run in set three to lead 10-6, but Cabarkapa put a stop to the streak with a kill and UC answered right back. Another Cabarkapa kill, Shockers error, Ficker ace, Oliver kill and Thompson kill gave the Bearcats a run of their own and tied the set at 12, forcing a Wichita State timeout. With the set tied at 17, Thompson connected on three-straight kills to put the Bearcats back in front. The Shockers were able to tie the set back up at 20, but another 3-0 run by UC on a Fauske kill, Ficker ace and Oliver kill kept UC ahead. One more Thompson kill made it match-point. A service error made the match final.
// UP NEXT
The quest for a conference title continues when the two top teams in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll meet on Friday. UC will take on UCF for a noon match at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats will then host USF on Sunday at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.