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Bearcats Open AAC Play With a Florida Road Trip

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team is back in action, with the Bearcats beginning American Athletic Conference (AAC) play this weekend facing USF and UCF.

Opens in a new window AAC Volleyball Report Sept 21 Opens in a new window Alvey Preview Opens in a new window YouTube
Bearcats Open AAC Play With a Florida Road TripBearcats Open AAC Play With a Florida Road Trip
 
Cincinnati (5-3) is riding a four-game win streak going into conference play. After winning the last two games of the Notre Dame Tournament, the Bearcats ripped off a couple more victories this past weekend, beating rivals Xavier and Miami (OH). 

Coach Alvey previews the weekend, click the image above.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
  • The Bearcats are on a four-game win streak, beating Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Xavier and Miami (OH).
  • Maria Mallon was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the AAC with 5.31 points per set and 34 kills in two games. She has seven double-doubles on the year in eight games. 
  • Payton Frederick earned a spot on the AAC weekly honor roll for her defensive performance this past week. She had 35 digs in two games and three aces against Miami (OH).
  • Senior Shannon Williams (94) and freshman Abby Walker (93) have the second and third most points on the year for the Bearcats. Williams has been one of the most consistent players on the team this year, posting 10 or more kills in six out of eight games.
  • Cincinnati has outscored its opponents 554-517 so far through eight games. 
  • The Bearcats currently leads the AAC with 12.64 assists per set and 13.58 kills per set.
 
GAMES THIS WEEKEND
Cincinnati vs. USF – Tampa, Fla. – Friday, Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET | WATCH - LIVESTATS
  • USF is 6-5 on the season and is coming off the Stetson Invitational where it went 2-1, including wins against Stetson University and Bethune-Cookman University.
  • As a team, USF is outscoring its opponents 594-550 on the season. The Bulls have 435 kills compared to their opponents' 422 kills. 
  • Xavier is led on the on offensive side by Marta Cvitkovic, who has 145.5 points and 14 aces on the year.
  • Defensively, CC Clausen paces the Bulls with 161 digs. Freshman Amiree Hendricks-Walker has 38 blocks.
  • UC leads the all-time series against USF 26-13. UC won the last matchup 3-2, which was played on March. 5, 2021. The Bearcats are on a six-game winning streak in the series.

Cincinnati vs. UCF – Orlando, Fla. – Sunday, Sept. 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET | WATCH - LIVESTATS
  • UCF is 7-5 on the season and are riding a three-game win streak. They defeated Miami, Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Atlantic this past weekend at the Sunshine Challenge Cup.
  • McKenna Melville has a whopping 260.5 points this year, including a team-leading 18 aces.
  • Amber Olsen leads the team with 374 assists, averaging 8.13 per set.
  • Nerissa Moravec and Anne-Marie Watson have 55 and 48 blocks this year, respectively. 
  • The Knights are outscoring their opponents 810-726. 
  • The Bearcats are 8-12 against the Knights in 20 matchups. The last matchup was March 13, 2021, when UCF won 3-0. 
Both matchups can be streamed on ESPN+. 

FOLLOW THE BEARCATS 
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