TicketsPHILADELPHIA – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team saw its Saturday comeback at Temple fall just short after forcing a deciding fifth set, but eventually falling to the Owls, three sets to two.
Cincinnati (6-7, 4-4 American Athletic Conference) finished the afternoon with season high 73 kills on 190 attempts, averaging 14.6 kills per set and a .211 hit percentage against the Owls (10-5, 4-4 AAC).
NOTES
SET BREAK DOWN
SET 1: UC 25, TU 19
Temple got off to an early 5-1 lead over the Bearcats including a service ace by Tyler Lindgren to kick off the match. Cincinnati slowly chipped away at the Owl's lead until a pair of service aces by Ficker tied the first set up at 15. The Bearcats went on to put up an additional six points, ending their nine-point scoring run after Temple put up hands on a big block. Cincinnati held onto its momentum with Mallon taking the set point and the first set on a pair of kills assisted by Heckenmueller.
SET 2: TU 30, UC 28
Mallon held kept on the pressure to start the second set, accumulating two kills for the Bearcats. The match continued to seesaw until a set of services aces by the Owl's Falanika Danielson tied the set at ten, forcing a UC timeout. The Bearcats would take a late four-point streak, awarding them a two-point lead on a service ace by Heckenmueller. The set battled through 25, exchanging points until a kill by Temple and an attack error in the Owls favor awarded them the second set.
SET 3: TU 25, UC 16
The fight pressed on into the third set when another Falanika service ace kickstarted a four-score run for the Owls, forcing a Cincinnati timeout. Williams put up two more kills for the Bearcats bringing them within three of the of Owls. Temple went on its third, four-score run of the set putting UC at a seven-point deficit. Oliver went on to try and reclaim the momentum back from the Owls, posting a strong solo block and proceeding a kill assisted by Heckenmueller. Temple took the third set 26-16 on another four-point streak.
SET 4: UC 25, TU 21
UC rallied to start the fourth set, taking five of the first seven points including a powerful service ace by Maria Mallon. Cincinnati cashed in another three-points giving them a 10-5 advantage and forcing a Temple timeout. Temple continued to chip away at the score until another pair of kills by Mallon helped the Bearcats break away. Williams set the Bearcats up for the set point after hammering one down the middle of the court. She went on to put away the fourth set on another kill, forcing a fifth set decision.
SET 5: TU 15, UC 11
Temple got on the board first, securing the first two points of the set. UC quickly responded cashing in five-points and claiming a brief 5-3 lead. The Owls went on to take nine of the next 11 points, giving them a commanding 12-7 lead and forcing a UC timeout. The Bearcats came out trying to claim a late set comeback, after a pair of kills by Williams brought UC within three. Cincinnati fell just short after a long rally ended when senior Katerina Papazoglou secured the fifth set and punched the Owls ticket to the AAC Championship.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats close out the season 6-7 and 4-4 in AAC play, just missing out on the AAC Championship which is set to take place on April 2-3, 2021 inside Fifth Third Arena.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Cincinnati (6-7, 4-4 American Athletic Conference) finished the afternoon with season high 73 kills on 190 attempts, averaging 14.6 kills per set and a .211 hit percentage against the Owls (10-5, 4-4 AAC).
NOTES
- Shannon Williams posted a career-best 26 kills on 55 attempts with only eight errors. She averaged 5.2 kills per set while also hitting .327.
- Maria Mallon matched her double-double from Friday night, her sixth of the season, with 23 kills and 18 digs.
- Adria Oliver had 10 kills on 25 attempts with just three errors and a .280 hit percentage.
- Armania Heckenmueller had a season-high 61 assists while also gathering 10 digs, five blocks, and a service ace.
- Kerstin Ficker secured two service aces.
- Payton Frederick scooped 15 digs for the Bearcats.
SET BREAK DOWN
SET 1: UC 25, TU 19
Temple got off to an early 5-1 lead over the Bearcats including a service ace by Tyler Lindgren to kick off the match. Cincinnati slowly chipped away at the Owl's lead until a pair of service aces by Ficker tied the first set up at 15. The Bearcats went on to put up an additional six points, ending their nine-point scoring run after Temple put up hands on a big block. Cincinnati held onto its momentum with Mallon taking the set point and the first set on a pair of kills assisted by Heckenmueller.
SET 2: TU 30, UC 28
Mallon held kept on the pressure to start the second set, accumulating two kills for the Bearcats. The match continued to seesaw until a set of services aces by the Owl's Falanika Danielson tied the set at ten, forcing a UC timeout. The Bearcats would take a late four-point streak, awarding them a two-point lead on a service ace by Heckenmueller. The set battled through 25, exchanging points until a kill by Temple and an attack error in the Owls favor awarded them the second set.
SET 3: TU 25, UC 16
The fight pressed on into the third set when another Falanika service ace kickstarted a four-score run for the Owls, forcing a Cincinnati timeout. Williams put up two more kills for the Bearcats bringing them within three of the of Owls. Temple went on its third, four-score run of the set putting UC at a seven-point deficit. Oliver went on to try and reclaim the momentum back from the Owls, posting a strong solo block and proceeding a kill assisted by Heckenmueller. Temple took the third set 26-16 on another four-point streak.
SET 4: UC 25, TU 21
UC rallied to start the fourth set, taking five of the first seven points including a powerful service ace by Maria Mallon. Cincinnati cashed in another three-points giving them a 10-5 advantage and forcing a Temple timeout. Temple continued to chip away at the score until another pair of kills by Mallon helped the Bearcats break away. Williams set the Bearcats up for the set point after hammering one down the middle of the court. She went on to put away the fourth set on another kill, forcing a fifth set decision.
SET 5: TU 15, UC 11
Temple got on the board first, securing the first two points of the set. UC quickly responded cashing in five-points and claiming a brief 5-3 lead. The Owls went on to take nine of the next 11 points, giving them a commanding 12-7 lead and forcing a UC timeout. The Bearcats came out trying to claim a late set comeback, after a pair of kills by Williams brought UC within three. Cincinnati fell just short after a long rally ended when senior Katerina Papazoglou secured the fifth set and punched the Owls ticket to the AAC Championship.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats close out the season 6-7 and 4-4 in AAC play, just missing out on the AAC Championship which is set to take place on April 2-3, 2021 inside Fifth Third Arena.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.