HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – The Cincinnati Bearcats Volleyball team fell against Northern Kentucky University inside Regents Hall.
Cincinnati (3-2) accumulated 38 kills over NKU (4-3) averaging 12.67 kills per set with a .185 hitting percentage.
NOTES
- Maria Mallon paced the Bearcats in kills securing 10 of the teams 38. Mallon was also able to gain 11 digs and one service ace on the evening.
- Sarah Norcom split eight kills and digs of her own.
- Armania Heckenmueller led the team with 23 assists, a season high.
SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: NKU, 25-18
UC struck first on an attack error in their favor. The Norse responded with seven-point streak which included three services acres by Anna Brinkmann putting NKU up 8-2. Mallon and Norcom fought to keep the Bearcats alive splitting four points and bringing the Bearcats within five points of the Norse. NKU would extend themselves taking the seven of the next 10 points lining them up for set point. The Bearcats for a four-point streak but lost the first set on a kill by Brinkmann.
SET 2: NKU, 25-20
UC reclaimed the momentum to start the second set, taking eight of the first 12 points and a 8-4 lead, forcing an NKU timeout. Brinkmann led the Norse back into contention with three kills putting NKU within two points of the Bearcats. A service ace by Mallon and a kill by Norcom put the Bearcats up 15-9. NKU Responded with five points, this time forcing a UC timeout. The Norse continued their press, tying things up at 17. NKU finished up the set with eight of the last eleven points. A service error in NKUs favor awarded them the second set.
SET 3: NKU, 25-17
Heckenmueller put the Bearcats up 2-0 early in the third set on a service ace. The set remained even through 13 when an attack error and a service ace by NKU's Reilly Briggs awarded NKU a 16-13 lead, forcing a Bearcats timeout. NKU continued its push, slowly chipping away at the score taking a 23-17 lead over the Bearcats. The Norse set up match point on a kill by Peyton Bagwell, taking the match on a service ace by Brinkmann.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats return to American Athletic Conference play against USF on Thursday March 4 and Friday March 5 in Tampa, Florida. First serve for both matches is set for 4 p.m. ET inside the Corral.
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