TicketsCINICNNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team opened American Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory over East Carolina, Thursday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (3-2, 1-0 AAC) now leads the all-time series 16-3 against ECU (1-1, 0-1 AAC) and 9-0 inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats accumulated 66 kills against the Pirates with 11 service aces.
NOTES
SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: UC, 25-21
ECU struck first, putting the Pirates on top 2-0. Following a brief tie by the Bearcats, ECU would go on a three-point streak, including a service ace by Camryn Allen. In the middle of the set, Sarah Norcom followed up with an Ace of her own, bringing UC within two at 10-8. Things remained even through 19, where a kill by Adria Oliver put the Bearcats on top and started a five-point streak including two service aces by Ficker, lining UC up for the set point. The Bearcats would take set one on a kill by Oliver.
SET 2: ECU, 26-24
The Bearcats came out to an early lead where a service ace by Mallon put the Bearcats up 6-3, forcing an ECU timeout. UC slowly began to run the score up, where another kill by Mallon put the Bearcats up 16-9. ECU would then answer, putting up eight points out of 10, bringing them within one point of the Bearcats at 18-17. A set of attack errors in the Pirates favor would put them on top 22-21. The battle would swing ECU's way when an attack error awarded the Pirates the second set with a score of 26-24.
SET 3: UC, 27-25
The Pirates kept their momentum rolling into the third set, going on a three-point streak to start with a service ace by to take them to a 3-0 lead. Another service ace by ECU's Alisi Motu'apuaka extended the Pirates lead to 13-8 and forced a UC timeout. The Bearcats would return and slowly begin chipping away at the score, bringing it within one late in the third on a service ace by Payton Frederick. UC reclaimed the lead at 26-25 after a long rally. Madison Waters finished out the third set with a pair of kills and claimed the third set for the Bearcats.
SET 4: UC, 25-23
The battle pressed on into the fourth set with thing remaining tied up through eight. ECU then kicked started some momentum and put together a seven-point streak taking the lead 13-8. The Bearcats would answer with a streak of their own late in the fourth, where a pair of aces by Ficker reclaimed the lead for UC, 20-19. The margin grew by two on another service ace by Kozer, setting the Bearcats up for a match point. An attack error in UC's favor would allow it to take the fourth set and a 3-1 victory over the Pirates.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats return to Fifth Third Arena tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. ET where they will finish out their two-day series against ECU. The match will be live streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Cincinnati (3-2, 1-0 AAC) now leads the all-time series 16-3 against ECU (1-1, 0-1 AAC) and 9-0 inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats accumulated 66 kills against the Pirates with 11 service aces.
NOTES
- Maria Mallon led the way in her first match of the season totaling a double-double with 21 kills and 21 digs. Her 21 kills were the most for a UC player this season and she averaged both 5.25 digs and kills per set.
- Ashley Kozer came out with 57 assists and three blocks both of which were career highs and brought her season assist total to 233.
- Kerstin Ficker hammered five services aces for the Bearcats, a career high.
- Alexander Kwasnik set career highs across the board with seven kills, two blocks and a single assist and dig
SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: UC, 25-21
ECU struck first, putting the Pirates on top 2-0. Following a brief tie by the Bearcats, ECU would go on a three-point streak, including a service ace by Camryn Allen. In the middle of the set, Sarah Norcom followed up with an Ace of her own, bringing UC within two at 10-8. Things remained even through 19, where a kill by Adria Oliver put the Bearcats on top and started a five-point streak including two service aces by Ficker, lining UC up for the set point. The Bearcats would take set one on a kill by Oliver.
SET 2: ECU, 26-24
The Bearcats came out to an early lead where a service ace by Mallon put the Bearcats up 6-3, forcing an ECU timeout. UC slowly began to run the score up, where another kill by Mallon put the Bearcats up 16-9. ECU would then answer, putting up eight points out of 10, bringing them within one point of the Bearcats at 18-17. A set of attack errors in the Pirates favor would put them on top 22-21. The battle would swing ECU's way when an attack error awarded the Pirates the second set with a score of 26-24.
SET 3: UC, 27-25
The Pirates kept their momentum rolling into the third set, going on a three-point streak to start with a service ace by to take them to a 3-0 lead. Another service ace by ECU's Alisi Motu'apuaka extended the Pirates lead to 13-8 and forced a UC timeout. The Bearcats would return and slowly begin chipping away at the score, bringing it within one late in the third on a service ace by Payton Frederick. UC reclaimed the lead at 26-25 after a long rally. Madison Waters finished out the third set with a pair of kills and claimed the third set for the Bearcats.
SET 4: UC, 25-23
The battle pressed on into the fourth set with thing remaining tied up through eight. ECU then kicked started some momentum and put together a seven-point streak taking the lead 13-8. The Bearcats would answer with a streak of their own late in the fourth, where a pair of aces by Ficker reclaimed the lead for UC, 20-19. The margin grew by two on another service ace by Kozer, setting the Bearcats up for a match point. An attack error in UC's favor would allow it to take the fourth set and a 3-1 victory over the Pirates.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats return to Fifth Third Arena tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. ET where they will finish out their two-day series against ECU. The match will be live streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.