TicketsEAST LANSING, Mich. – University of Cincinnati volleyball had complete control Friday morning to take down No. 21 Tennessee in straight sets for the opening match of the Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational.
The team hit .407 in the match and outnumbered the Lady Vols in every stat, including eight service aces served up by the Bearcats.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the way with an impressive 26 kills on a .417 attack percentage
• Maria Mallon followed with 13 kills on a .500 performance
• Armania Heckenmueller paced the offense with 39 assists and three aces. She tied with a team-high seven digs
• Kerstin Ficker also finished with seven digs and added in five assists
• Damjana Cabarkapa led the team with four aces and had two kills on two attempts and three blocks
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC, 25-18
Tennessee was able to score the first point of the match but Thompson answered right away with her first kill. Neither team was able to jump out to a sizeable lead until Thompson broke a 12-12 tie and an attack error put the Bearcats up by two. Back-to-back kills from Mallon made it a 17-14 set, forcing a UT timeout. Another Mallon kill and an ace by the sophomore added to the UC lead out of the break. Two Thompson kills and a block by Adria Oliver and Heckenmueller ended the set.
Set 2: UC, 25-19
In the second set, the Lady Vols scored the first two points on kills before Cabarkapa served up back-to-back aces to lead 5-2. Tennessee came back to take the lead. However, kills by Mallon, Thompson and Cabarkapa gave UC a two-point advantage at the 13-11 mark. Later on, Cabarkapa and Karoline Fauske teamed up for a block and Heckenmueller had one of her three aces to bring set point closer. Thompson ended the set in the Bearcats' favor with a kill.
Set 3: UC, 25-23
The Lady Vols hung around until the end in the third set but the Bearcats were still able to complete the sweep. This time, Thompson started the set with a kill. Another kill and Cabarkapa ace had UC up 5-1 early. Kills by the same duo pushed the lead to 13-7. Tennessee slowly crept back in, tying the set at 17 all. Mallon broke the tie with a kill and Fauske and Cabarkapa caused a UT timeout with a block right after. Two UC errors let the match become locked in a 22-22 tie, but another block, this time by Oliver and Heckenmueller, kept the Bearcats in front. Thompson's final kill had UC looking at match point before Mallon ended it off an assist from Heckenmueller.
// UP NEXT
The tournament continues with a match against host Michigan State Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
The team hit .407 in the match and outnumbered the Lady Vols in every stat, including eight service aces served up by the Bearcats.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the way with an impressive 26 kills on a .417 attack percentage
• Maria Mallon followed with 13 kills on a .500 performance
• Armania Heckenmueller paced the offense with 39 assists and three aces. She tied with a team-high seven digs
• Kerstin Ficker also finished with seven digs and added in five assists
• Damjana Cabarkapa led the team with four aces and had two kills on two attempts and three blocks
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC, 25-18
Tennessee was able to score the first point of the match but Thompson answered right away with her first kill. Neither team was able to jump out to a sizeable lead until Thompson broke a 12-12 tie and an attack error put the Bearcats up by two. Back-to-back kills from Mallon made it a 17-14 set, forcing a UT timeout. Another Mallon kill and an ace by the sophomore added to the UC lead out of the break. Two Thompson kills and a block by Adria Oliver and Heckenmueller ended the set.
Set 2: UC, 25-19
In the second set, the Lady Vols scored the first two points on kills before Cabarkapa served up back-to-back aces to lead 5-2. Tennessee came back to take the lead. However, kills by Mallon, Thompson and Cabarkapa gave UC a two-point advantage at the 13-11 mark. Later on, Cabarkapa and Karoline Fauske teamed up for a block and Heckenmueller had one of her three aces to bring set point closer. Thompson ended the set in the Bearcats' favor with a kill.
Set 3: UC, 25-23
The Lady Vols hung around until the end in the third set but the Bearcats were still able to complete the sweep. This time, Thompson started the set with a kill. Another kill and Cabarkapa ace had UC up 5-1 early. Kills by the same duo pushed the lead to 13-7. Tennessee slowly crept back in, tying the set at 17 all. Mallon broke the tie with a kill and Fauske and Cabarkapa caused a UT timeout with a block right after. Two UC errors let the match become locked in a 22-22 tie, but another block, this time by Oliver and Heckenmueller, kept the Bearcats in front. Thompson's final kill had UC looking at match point before Mallon ended it off an assist from Heckenmueller.
// UP NEXT
The tournament continues with a match against host Michigan State Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.