TicketsEAST LANSING, Mich. – University of Cincinnati volleyball fell 3-1 Friday night against host Michigan State in the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational.
The Bearcats were coming off a big 3-0 sweep of No. 21 Tennessee earlier in the day but could not make the full comeback against the Spartans.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the team with 17 kills and was one of four players with eight digs
• Maria Mallon had 14 kills and eight digs
• Armania Heckenmueller had a team-high 36 assists with eight digs
• Maria Tobergte was the fourth player with eight digs and also had two aces
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: MSU 25-12
Starting right where they left off from the day's earlier match, the Bearcats opened the first set with a kill by Thompson. However, the Spartans came on strong. Michigan State took a 4-3 lead on a block and did not look back. UC strung together back-to-back points on a Thompson block and a Michigan State attack error to put the score at 17-10. The Bearcats were not able to get much closer as the Spartans closed out the set with three straight kills.
Set 2: MSU 25-21
Michigan State got out to a 2-0 start before a kill from Mallon and ace by Cabarkapa evened the score. The lead changed hands until the Spartans broke a 6-6 tie to start a 4-0 run. Mallon made it a three-point set with an ace and kill, putting the score at 13-10. After Michigan State added to its lead, UC brought the set back within three after a Kerstin Ficker ace and a MSU error. Late kills by Mallon and Thompson closed the gap, making it 22-20. Unfortunately, an attack error ended the set in favor of the Spartans
Set 3: UC 25-20
Cabarkapa started the third with a kill and the two teams battled closely until the end, Tobergte's two aces came up big as the Bearcats were down 8-6 and the two aces set up Mallon to take the lead on a kill. Kills by Thompson and Madison Waters gave UC a 13-11 lead and another kill, this time by Oliver, kept the lead at two, 14-12. The Spartans tied the game at 14 and at 15 but kills by Waters kept the advantage with the Bearcats. UC broke away on a Thompson kill to be the first to twenty and then led 22-19 following two Thompson aces. Cabarkapa and Waters finished the set with a block.
Set 4: MSU 25-20
UC's effort fell short in the final set as Michigan State pulled away and maintained the lead for the win. The Spartans went out ahead 11-2 before a Mallon kill and ace ended the scoring streak. Thompson and Oliver recorded back-to-back kills to put the deficit at six, 12-6. Down 18-10, the Bearcats went on a run of their own. An error, block by Oliver and Mallon and Oliver kill made it 18-13. UC continued to surge late in the set. A Oliver kill, two Thompson kills, Ficker ace and Cabarkapa block allowed UC to score five straight points. However, an error by the Bearcats and block by the Spartans allowed Michigan State to win the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats wrap up play at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational with a match against Indiana State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
The Bearcats were coming off a big 3-0 sweep of No. 21 Tennessee earlier in the day but could not make the full comeback against the Spartans.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the team with 17 kills and was one of four players with eight digs
• Maria Mallon had 14 kills and eight digs
• Armania Heckenmueller had a team-high 36 assists with eight digs
• Maria Tobergte was the fourth player with eight digs and also had two aces
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: MSU 25-12
Starting right where they left off from the day's earlier match, the Bearcats opened the first set with a kill by Thompson. However, the Spartans came on strong. Michigan State took a 4-3 lead on a block and did not look back. UC strung together back-to-back points on a Thompson block and a Michigan State attack error to put the score at 17-10. The Bearcats were not able to get much closer as the Spartans closed out the set with three straight kills.
Set 2: MSU 25-21
Michigan State got out to a 2-0 start before a kill from Mallon and ace by Cabarkapa evened the score. The lead changed hands until the Spartans broke a 6-6 tie to start a 4-0 run. Mallon made it a three-point set with an ace and kill, putting the score at 13-10. After Michigan State added to its lead, UC brought the set back within three after a Kerstin Ficker ace and a MSU error. Late kills by Mallon and Thompson closed the gap, making it 22-20. Unfortunately, an attack error ended the set in favor of the Spartans
Set 3: UC 25-20
Cabarkapa started the third with a kill and the two teams battled closely until the end, Tobergte's two aces came up big as the Bearcats were down 8-6 and the two aces set up Mallon to take the lead on a kill. Kills by Thompson and Madison Waters gave UC a 13-11 lead and another kill, this time by Oliver, kept the lead at two, 14-12. The Spartans tied the game at 14 and at 15 but kills by Waters kept the advantage with the Bearcats. UC broke away on a Thompson kill to be the first to twenty and then led 22-19 following two Thompson aces. Cabarkapa and Waters finished the set with a block.
Set 4: MSU 25-20
UC's effort fell short in the final set as Michigan State pulled away and maintained the lead for the win. The Spartans went out ahead 11-2 before a Mallon kill and ace ended the scoring streak. Thompson and Oliver recorded back-to-back kills to put the deficit at six, 12-6. Down 18-10, the Bearcats went on a run of their own. An error, block by Oliver and Mallon and Oliver kill made it 18-13. UC continued to surge late in the set. A Oliver kill, two Thompson kills, Ficker ace and Cabarkapa block allowed UC to score five straight points. However, an error by the Bearcats and block by the Spartans allowed Michigan State to win the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats wrap up play at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational with a match against Indiana State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.