TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati volleyball posted a big statement win on Friday afternoon, beating UCF in straight sets.
The Bearcats finished second in the conference last season behind the undefeated Knights and the two teams were selected to finish in the same order this year. The victory for UC ends UCF's 26-match win streak in conference play. UC has won every set in conference play so far this season with three match sweeps.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the way with 28 kills, four shy of tying UC's three-set record. She added in 13 digs for a double-double. She hit .468
• Maria Mallon also had another double-double with 16 kills and ten digs while hitting .467
• Karoline Fauske added in six kills and nine digs
• Armania Heckenmuller led the offense with 49 assists
• Mackenzie Conner tied the team-lead with 13 digs
• Both Damjana Cabarkapa and Adria Oliver finished with two blocks
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-19
The Bearcats put the first two points on the board with a block by Cabarkapa and kill by Fauske and led the whole way. UC remained in front with a Cabarkapa kill, Thompson kill and block by the pair, putting the score at 6-2. UCF crept in to make it a one-point game, but UC got back to a four-point lead after a Mallon kill, Thompson kill and a block by Mallon and Cabarkapa. The Bearcats were the first to 15, leading by five, on a Thompson kill. The final three points were all from UC as Fauske had back-to-back kills and Mallon ended it on a kill.
Set 2: UC 26-24
UC once again got the scoring started, this time on a Mallon kill. The set went back-and-forth the whole way with neither team able to grab a sizeable advantage. Back-to-back kills by Thompson put the Bearcats up 10-9. The Knights came back and went ahead 15-13 after an ace. After Thompson put UC back in front 29-18 on a kill, UCF scored the next four points to lead 22-19. Adria Oliver stopped the streak with a block. The Knights looked like they would even the match up, but the Bearcats would not have it. Down 22-24, the final four points came via two Mallon kills and two Thompson kills to give UC the comeback and the 2-0 match lead.
Set 3: UC 25-20
Two straight errors by the Knights allowed the Bearcats to start the set out on top for the third time. Tied at four, a service error put UC up and led to a 10-5 lead after Thompson had two kills, an ace and Mallon had a kill. Mallon had an ace later on to push the lead to 14-9. The Knights were able to bring the lead to within two, 16-14, but Thompson added more cushion with a kill and ace. Two kills from Mallon brought the match to 20-16. Yet another Mallon kill brought the contest to match-point. An error allowed the Knights to stay alive, but an attack error on the next play completed the sweep.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats remain home to 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.
The Bearcats finished second in the conference last season behind the undefeated Knights and the two teams were selected to finish in the same order this year. The victory for UC ends UCF's 26-match win streak in conference play. UC has won every set in conference play so far this season with three match sweeps.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led the way with 28 kills, four shy of tying UC's three-set record. She added in 13 digs for a double-double. She hit .468
• Maria Mallon also had another double-double with 16 kills and ten digs while hitting .467
• Karoline Fauske added in six kills and nine digs
• Armania Heckenmuller led the offense with 49 assists
• Mackenzie Conner tied the team-lead with 13 digs
• Both Damjana Cabarkapa and Adria Oliver finished with two blocks
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: UC 25-19
The Bearcats put the first two points on the board with a block by Cabarkapa and kill by Fauske and led the whole way. UC remained in front with a Cabarkapa kill, Thompson kill and block by the pair, putting the score at 6-2. UCF crept in to make it a one-point game, but UC got back to a four-point lead after a Mallon kill, Thompson kill and a block by Mallon and Cabarkapa. The Bearcats were the first to 15, leading by five, on a Thompson kill. The final three points were all from UC as Fauske had back-to-back kills and Mallon ended it on a kill.
Set 2: UC 26-24
UC once again got the scoring started, this time on a Mallon kill. The set went back-and-forth the whole way with neither team able to grab a sizeable advantage. Back-to-back kills by Thompson put the Bearcats up 10-9. The Knights came back and went ahead 15-13 after an ace. After Thompson put UC back in front 29-18 on a kill, UCF scored the next four points to lead 22-19. Adria Oliver stopped the streak with a block. The Knights looked like they would even the match up, but the Bearcats would not have it. Down 22-24, the final four points came via two Mallon kills and two Thompson kills to give UC the comeback and the 2-0 match lead.
Set 3: UC 25-20
Two straight errors by the Knights allowed the Bearcats to start the set out on top for the third time. Tied at four, a service error put UC up and led to a 10-5 lead after Thompson had two kills, an ace and Mallon had a kill. Mallon had an ace later on to push the lead to 14-9. The Knights were able to bring the lead to within two, 16-14, but Thompson added more cushion with a kill and ace. Two kills from Mallon brought the match to 20-16. Yet another Mallon kill brought the contest to match-point. An error allowed the Knights to stay alive, but an attack error on the next play completed the sweep.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats remain home to 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.