TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati volleyball overcame a slow start to beat USF 3-1 Sunday afternoon in Fifth Third Arena.
UC and Houston are the only teams to sit at a perfect record of 4-0 through the first two weeks of American Athletic Conference competition. The Bearcats lead the way with three sweeps with only one set dropped.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 37 kills on a .433 hitting performance with ten digs and two blocks
• Maria Mallon also reached double-digits in kills with ten and had nine digs
• Armania Heckenmueller totaled 49 assists and posted a double-double of her own with 14 digs
• Karoline Fasuke tied the team-high with 14 digs and had three blocks
• Dimitra Tziarli finished with five blocks to lead the team
• Kerstin Ficker had a great day at the service line with four aces
• Adria Oliver had eight kills and three blocks on the day
• Mackenzie Conner helped the team record 12 aces with three of her own
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: USF 25-23
UC's offense was slow out of the gate and USF took advantage in the opening set. The Bearcats led 4-3 after scoring three straight points on two Thompson kills and a block by Fauske and Oliver. The Bulls answered back and a 4-0 run put them ahead 10-6. An error tied the set at 15, but USF was able to keep the lead. Facing set point, UC scored the next five points. Thompson had back-to-back kills and an error by USF made it 24-21. The next two points came from a Mallon kill and Heckenmueller. But, UC wasn't able to keep it going as USF finished the set with a kill.
Set 2: UC 25-21
The Bearcats found late life to tie the match 1-1. Down by four, 10-6, UC put together a 3-0 run two Mallon kills and a block by Mallon and Tziarli. However, the Bulls were able to put their lead back up to three. Another 3-0 run by the Bearcats, this time on two Thompson kills and a USF error, tied the set at 14. UC went up by one, 16-15, on another Thompson kill and an error. The end of the set was close until a 4-0 Bearcats' run. Thompson had three-straight kills and Ficker served up an ace to make it set-point. USF was able to score once more, but Thompson continued to take over with her 18th kill of the day.
Set 3: UC 25-12
UC came out firing in set three to take the match lead, hitting .737 as a team in the period. The start of the third was close until Thompson had back-to-back kills and Fauske had back-to-back aces to give the Bearcats an 8-4 advantage. Mallon added in a kill and Fauske had two more before a USF error made it 15-8. An Oliver kill, Fauske ace and block by Thompson and Oliver brought the Bearcats to twenty. The final five points were all from UC as Thompson and Oliver had kills, the Bulls had two errors and Mallon finished it off with another UC kill.
Set 4: UC 26-24
It took extra points, but UC was able to win the match in four. Thompson started the set on a good note with two kills and Mallon had one for the early lead. Tied at eight, the Bulls snuck ahead by one, but Thompson quickly tied it back up. USF also led 10-9, but Thompson once again tied the match on a kill. Two Oliver kills and an error by the Bulls forced USF to call a timeout with UC in front 16-13. The Bearcats held on to the lead until some late Bulls kills gave the visitors a 22-21 advantage. Thompson put UC back in front out of a timeout with two kills. Down 24-23, Thompson again found back-to-back kills and then served up an ace to clinch the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats hit the road next weekend to play at UConn on Friday and at Temple on Sunday.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
UC and Houston are the only teams to sit at a perfect record of 4-0 through the first two weeks of American Athletic Conference competition. The Bearcats lead the way with three sweeps with only one set dropped.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 37 kills on a .433 hitting performance with ten digs and two blocks
• Maria Mallon also reached double-digits in kills with ten and had nine digs
• Armania Heckenmueller totaled 49 assists and posted a double-double of her own with 14 digs
• Karoline Fasuke tied the team-high with 14 digs and had three blocks
• Dimitra Tziarli finished with five blocks to lead the team
• Kerstin Ficker had a great day at the service line with four aces
• Adria Oliver had eight kills and three blocks on the day
• Mackenzie Conner helped the team record 12 aces with three of her own
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: USF 25-23
UC's offense was slow out of the gate and USF took advantage in the opening set. The Bearcats led 4-3 after scoring three straight points on two Thompson kills and a block by Fauske and Oliver. The Bulls answered back and a 4-0 run put them ahead 10-6. An error tied the set at 15, but USF was able to keep the lead. Facing set point, UC scored the next five points. Thompson had back-to-back kills and an error by USF made it 24-21. The next two points came from a Mallon kill and Heckenmueller. But, UC wasn't able to keep it going as USF finished the set with a kill.
Set 2: UC 25-21
The Bearcats found late life to tie the match 1-1. Down by four, 10-6, UC put together a 3-0 run two Mallon kills and a block by Mallon and Tziarli. However, the Bulls were able to put their lead back up to three. Another 3-0 run by the Bearcats, this time on two Thompson kills and a USF error, tied the set at 14. UC went up by one, 16-15, on another Thompson kill and an error. The end of the set was close until a 4-0 Bearcats' run. Thompson had three-straight kills and Ficker served up an ace to make it set-point. USF was able to score once more, but Thompson continued to take over with her 18th kill of the day.
Set 3: UC 25-12
UC came out firing in set three to take the match lead, hitting .737 as a team in the period. The start of the third was close until Thompson had back-to-back kills and Fauske had back-to-back aces to give the Bearcats an 8-4 advantage. Mallon added in a kill and Fauske had two more before a USF error made it 15-8. An Oliver kill, Fauske ace and block by Thompson and Oliver brought the Bearcats to twenty. The final five points were all from UC as Thompson and Oliver had kills, the Bulls had two errors and Mallon finished it off with another UC kill.
Set 4: UC 26-24
It took extra points, but UC was able to win the match in four. Thompson started the set on a good note with two kills and Mallon had one for the early lead. Tied at eight, the Bulls snuck ahead by one, but Thompson quickly tied it back up. USF also led 10-9, but Thompson once again tied the match on a kill. Two Oliver kills and an error by the Bulls forced USF to call a timeout with UC in front 16-13. The Bearcats held on to the lead until some late Bulls kills gave the visitors a 22-21 advantage. Thompson put UC back in front out of a timeout with two kills. Down 24-23, Thompson again found back-to-back kills and then served up an ace to clinch the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats hit the road next weekend to play at UConn on Friday and at Temple on Sunday.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.