TicketsTAMPA, FLA. – It was deja vu in Tampa Friday as the University of Cincinnati volleyball team claimed its second five-set crown in day two of an American Athletic Conference series in The Corral at USF.
Cincinnati (6-3, AAC 4-0) accumulated 53 kills on 140 attempts, averaging 10.6 kills per set and a .207 hit percentage. The Bearcats tallied another seven services aces and 48 kills to their season total.
UC improved to 4-0 in the AAC after edging out another conference victory against the Bulls (5-4, 3-3 AAC). Cincinnati now leads the AAC East pending the results of the UCF vs ECU conference match up this Friday and Saturday evening.
NOTES
SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: UC, 27-25
USF got off to an early 4-1 advantage over the Bearcats after four errors landed in its favor. The Bulls began to pull away after a kill by Marta Cvitkovic sent them on a four-score streak, extending their lead by six and forcing at UC timeout. UC answered with a five-score run of its own, closing the deficit to three. Another kill by Waters tied things up at 19 forcing a USF timeout. Heckenmueller awarded the Bearcats a 21-20 lead for the first time in the match. The battle proceeded through 25 when a kill by Mallon awarded the Bearcats the set point taking the first set on an attack error.
SET 2: USF, 25-11
The Bulls edged the Bearcats to start the second set, going on a four-score streak, claiming an early 5-2 lead on a service ace by CC Clausen. USF kept the pressure on, going on another six-score run, when a service ace by Bolinger slowed the Bulls momentum. The Bulls proceeded to extend their lead by 14, when Clausen's second service ace of the set gave the bulls a 23-9 lead. UC would claim two points of their own including a solo block by Bolinger. However, USF would take the second set 25-11 after a pair of kills gave the Bulls the set win.
SET 3: USF, 25-23
UC pushed back to start the third set, keeping the scores balanced through five when a kill by Oliver gave the Bearcats a brief 8-6 lead. The Bearcats battled through 10 where the Bulls would take six of the next seven points and a 15-11 lead, forcing a UC timeout. A set of kills by Waters narrowed the bulls lead by two. USF was the first to 24, the Bearcats rattled of three kills to stay alive through four match points, falling to USF 25-23 in set three.
SET 4: UC, 25-15
The battle pressed on into the fourth with the score remaining even through six. The Bearcats began their climb after a pair of bad sets gave them an 8-6 advantage. Waters ripped an ace down mid-court giving UC a 15-9 advantage, forcing a USF timeout. Waters continued to lead Cincinnati in the fourth set, igniting a late five-point streak and the 24-14 set point. Cvitkovic answered with a kill to keep the Bulls alive, only to have Waters put it away on her 11th kill of the evening.
SET 5: UC, 15-7
UC wasted no time getting out to an early 7-2 lead, led by Williams who gathered two kills and a block for the Bearcats, forcing an early USF timeout. The Bearcats picked it back up as Kozer fired away, picking up another UC point on a service ace. The Bearcats kept the pressure on, setting themselves up for the match point on a power service ace by Kerstin Ficker. Waters put it away for the second set in a row, awarding the Bearcats a 15-7, fifth-set victory to take the match.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats continue conference play as they play host to UCF next Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, at 1 p.m. ET both days. Both AAC matches will air on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Cincinnati (6-3, AAC 4-0) accumulated 53 kills on 140 attempts, averaging 10.6 kills per set and a .207 hit percentage. The Bearcats tallied another seven services aces and 48 kills to their season total.
UC improved to 4-0 in the AAC after edging out another conference victory against the Bulls (5-4, 3-3 AAC). Cincinnati now leads the AAC East pending the results of the UCF vs ECU conference match up this Friday and Saturday evening.
NOTES
- Adria Oliver led Cincinnati in kills with 13 on 21 attempts and only four errors, averaging 2.6 kills per set and a .429 hit percentage.
- Madison Waters claimed her second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 16 digs.
- Shannon Williams put up 11 kills for the Bearcats on 22 attempts and three errors, accumulating a hit percentage of .364.
- Ashley Kozer led UC with two aces while accumulating 21 assists.
- Armania Heckenmueller led the team in assists with 25, just shy of her season-high 26.
SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: UC, 27-25
USF got off to an early 4-1 advantage over the Bearcats after four errors landed in its favor. The Bulls began to pull away after a kill by Marta Cvitkovic sent them on a four-score streak, extending their lead by six and forcing at UC timeout. UC answered with a five-score run of its own, closing the deficit to three. Another kill by Waters tied things up at 19 forcing a USF timeout. Heckenmueller awarded the Bearcats a 21-20 lead for the first time in the match. The battle proceeded through 25 when a kill by Mallon awarded the Bearcats the set point taking the first set on an attack error.
SET 2: USF, 25-11
The Bulls edged the Bearcats to start the second set, going on a four-score streak, claiming an early 5-2 lead on a service ace by CC Clausen. USF kept the pressure on, going on another six-score run, when a service ace by Bolinger slowed the Bulls momentum. The Bulls proceeded to extend their lead by 14, when Clausen's second service ace of the set gave the bulls a 23-9 lead. UC would claim two points of their own including a solo block by Bolinger. However, USF would take the second set 25-11 after a pair of kills gave the Bulls the set win.
SET 3: USF, 25-23
UC pushed back to start the third set, keeping the scores balanced through five when a kill by Oliver gave the Bearcats a brief 8-6 lead. The Bearcats battled through 10 where the Bulls would take six of the next seven points and a 15-11 lead, forcing a UC timeout. A set of kills by Waters narrowed the bulls lead by two. USF was the first to 24, the Bearcats rattled of three kills to stay alive through four match points, falling to USF 25-23 in set three.
SET 4: UC, 25-15
The battle pressed on into the fourth with the score remaining even through six. The Bearcats began their climb after a pair of bad sets gave them an 8-6 advantage. Waters ripped an ace down mid-court giving UC a 15-9 advantage, forcing a USF timeout. Waters continued to lead Cincinnati in the fourth set, igniting a late five-point streak and the 24-14 set point. Cvitkovic answered with a kill to keep the Bulls alive, only to have Waters put it away on her 11th kill of the evening.
SET 5: UC, 15-7
UC wasted no time getting out to an early 7-2 lead, led by Williams who gathered two kills and a block for the Bearcats, forcing an early USF timeout. The Bearcats picked it back up as Kozer fired away, picking up another UC point on a service ace. The Bearcats kept the pressure on, setting themselves up for the match point on a power service ace by Kerstin Ficker. Waters put it away for the second set in a row, awarding the Bearcats a 15-7, fifth-set victory to take the match.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats continue conference play as they play host to UCF next Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, at 1 p.m. ET both days. Both AAC matches will air on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.