TicketsPITTSBURGH – University of Cincinnati volleyball advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history and for the second straight season after a 3-1 win over VCU Friday night.
Head Coach Molly Alvey earned her 200th career win as a head coach with the victory.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 27 kills and ten digs
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 49 assists and led the team with 15 digs
• Damjana Cabarkapa had a team-high five blocks
• Maria Mallon had 16 kills, six digs and four blocks
• Adria Oliver reached double-digits in kills with ten and three blocks
• Karoline Fauske was just shy of a double-double with eight kills and 12 digs
• Mackenzie Conner had 11 digs
// POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: VCU 25-20
Thompson started the match with a kill, but the Rams were able to take an early lead and hold on for most of the way. A VCU service error and ace from Thompson put UC ahead 6-5. Cabarkapa later tied the set at eight on a kill. The next three points were scored by the Rams until the Bearcats came out of a timeout with a Fauske kill and VCU error. Down 14-11, UC scored two on another Fauske kill and one from Oliver. Back-to-back kills by Mallon tied the set at 17. The Rams put together a 3-0 run off two errors and a kill to lead 22-18. The Bearcats were able to score on a Fauske kill and then again on a Thompson kill when it was set point, but VCU won the set on a kill of their own.
Set 2: UC 25-22
The Bearcats answered back to take set two and tie the match a one apiece. The Rams were able to get out to a 5-2 lead, but the Bearcats answered with kills by Thompson and Oliver. Down 10-8, three-straight points from UC via a Fauske kill, Kerstin Ficker ace and block by Oliver and Thompson switched the lead to 11-10 UC. The advantage grew to 15-13 on back-to-back Oliver kills. VCU was able to tie the set at 20, but a 3-0 run from two Thompson kills and a VCU error made it 23-20 in favor of the Bearcats. The final two points of the set came off of kills by Thompson and Mallon.
Set 3: UC 25-19
A big, early run got UC off to a good start in the third. Five straight points were scored by a Fauske kill, Thompson kill, two VCU errors and another Thompson kill. That made it a 7-3 set. The Rams were able to string together six straight points of their own later on to take a 10-9 lead. Oliver and Heckenmueller put the Bearcats back in front with kills. Down 14-13, another 5-0 run thanks to four consecutive kills by Mallon and a Cabarkapa and Mallon block made it 18-14 for the Bearcats. Two kills from Oliver brought the advantage to 22-17. Mallon ended the set with two more kills.
Set 4: UC 25-23
UC hung on at the end to win the match in four. A Fauske kill, Oliver and Thompson block and VCU error for the set started. The Rams had a 6-0 run to comeback and lead 10-9, but the Bearcats answered with a Mallon kill and Thompson kill. Fauske and Thompson added in more kills to put the UC lead at 14-11 before it grew to 16-12 on a block by Heckenmueller and Oliver. The teams traded points down the stretch with VCU tying the set at 22. Thompson got the Bearcats ahead with a kill before the Rams tied it again at 23. The final two points came from a Thompson kill and a VCU attack error to close out the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will face the winner of the No.6 Pittsburgh/Howard match on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Head Coach Molly Alvey earned her 200th career win as a head coach with the victory.
// NOTES
• Jordan Thompson led with 27 kills and ten digs
• Armania Heckenmueller finished with 49 assists and led the team with 15 digs
• Damjana Cabarkapa had a team-high five blocks
• Maria Mallon had 16 kills, six digs and four blocks
• Adria Oliver reached double-digits in kills with ten and three blocks
• Karoline Fauske was just shy of a double-double with eight kills and 12 digs
• Mackenzie Conner had 11 digs
// POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
// SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: VCU 25-20
Thompson started the match with a kill, but the Rams were able to take an early lead and hold on for most of the way. A VCU service error and ace from Thompson put UC ahead 6-5. Cabarkapa later tied the set at eight on a kill. The next three points were scored by the Rams until the Bearcats came out of a timeout with a Fauske kill and VCU error. Down 14-11, UC scored two on another Fauske kill and one from Oliver. Back-to-back kills by Mallon tied the set at 17. The Rams put together a 3-0 run off two errors and a kill to lead 22-18. The Bearcats were able to score on a Fauske kill and then again on a Thompson kill when it was set point, but VCU won the set on a kill of their own.
Set 2: UC 25-22
The Bearcats answered back to take set two and tie the match a one apiece. The Rams were able to get out to a 5-2 lead, but the Bearcats answered with kills by Thompson and Oliver. Down 10-8, three-straight points from UC via a Fauske kill, Kerstin Ficker ace and block by Oliver and Thompson switched the lead to 11-10 UC. The advantage grew to 15-13 on back-to-back Oliver kills. VCU was able to tie the set at 20, but a 3-0 run from two Thompson kills and a VCU error made it 23-20 in favor of the Bearcats. The final two points of the set came off of kills by Thompson and Mallon.
Set 3: UC 25-19
A big, early run got UC off to a good start in the third. Five straight points were scored by a Fauske kill, Thompson kill, two VCU errors and another Thompson kill. That made it a 7-3 set. The Rams were able to string together six straight points of their own later on to take a 10-9 lead. Oliver and Heckenmueller put the Bearcats back in front with kills. Down 14-13, another 5-0 run thanks to four consecutive kills by Mallon and a Cabarkapa and Mallon block made it 18-14 for the Bearcats. Two kills from Oliver brought the advantage to 22-17. Mallon ended the set with two more kills.
Set 4: UC 25-23
UC hung on at the end to win the match in four. A Fauske kill, Oliver and Thompson block and VCU error for the set started. The Rams had a 6-0 run to comeback and lead 10-9, but the Bearcats answered with a Mallon kill and Thompson kill. Fauske and Thompson added in more kills to put the UC lead at 14-11 before it grew to 16-12 on a block by Heckenmueller and Oliver. The teams traded points down the stretch with VCU tying the set at 22. Thompson got the Bearcats ahead with a kill before the Rams tied it again at 23. The final two points came from a Thompson kill and a VCU attack error to close out the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will face the winner of the No.6 Pittsburgh/Howard match on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.