TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team came back from down two sets to one against USF to win in five sets (18-23, 25-19, 15-25, 25-22, 15-13) Friday night. The Bearcats (6-3, 1-0 AAC) are now on a five-game winning streak, and have started off conference play with a thrilling win.
As a team, the Bearcats finished the game with 48 kills, 46 assists, 51 digs and 10 blocks.
GAME NOTES
The Bearcats started slow in what would eventually be a near-three hour match. In the first set, UC could not get comfortable. USF was getting everything to go their way and the Bearcats could not overcome the deficit, eventually falling, 20-25. The second set was almost the complete opposite. The Bearcats got out to a 10-6 lead and would never give the lead back. After a 3-0 run by the Bulls to get within two, the Bearcats took five out of the next seven points to extend the lead back up to four. The Bulls would get close again at 17-16, but the Bearcats would once again go on a run, this time taking eight out of the last 11 points, to win the set, 25-19.
The third set would begin close, but the Bulls went on a massive run and scored 12 out of the last 16 points to win the set. This set felt very similar to the first, when the Bearcats just could not get comfortable, and with seemingly everything going USF's way. But just like the second set, the Bearcats would fight back hard and show some resilience. This set was back-and-forth for the most part, with the Bearcats leading by three or less most of the way. The Bulls tried their best to close out the game, but a 5-0 run by the Bearcats to make the score 24-17 seemingly ended it. The Bulls were not going to let it happen that easily. They followed that with their own 5-0 run to bring themselves within two, but Maria Mallon closed out the set with a kill to make it 25-22.
The Bearcats had a flair for the dramatic tonight. Even though they would begin the fifth and final set on fire, USF would not go down easily. The Bearcats went up 8-2 only for the Bulls to score seven out of the next nine points, making it 10-9. After a few challenges and timeouts, it was tied at 13. Mallon would give the visiting team back the lead, and Abby Walker put the nail in the coffin with a crushing blow that landed directly in the middle of the USF defense. When the dust settled, Cincinnati won 15-13 in the fifth set, coming back from being down two sets to one.
NEXT UP
The Bearcats begin continue American Athletic Conference play Sunday when they will travel to Orlando to take on UCF. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
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As a team, the Bearcats finished the game with 48 kills, 46 assists, 51 digs and 10 blocks.
GAME NOTES
- The Bearcats have now won seven-straight games against the Bulls. The last three matchups have all ended in similar fashion, with the Bearcats winning the last two sets to complete a comeback.
- Maria Mallon recorded her eighth double-double of the season after leading the team with 15 kills and also pitching in 13 digs. She also recorded four blocks, which is a new season-high.
- Adria Oliver had seven kills on the night, but her presence was felt more on the defensive end where she stood tall for five blocks, which is also a season-high for her.
- Abby Walker had seven kills with a .350 hitting percentage.
- Armania Heckenmueller and Emme Madden shared setting duties once again. Heckenmueller had 17 assists while Madden had 24. Heckenmueller also pitched in with a team-high 14 digs.
- The Bearcats had 10 blocks, which is tied for the second most in a game this season.
The Bearcats started slow in what would eventually be a near-three hour match. In the first set, UC could not get comfortable. USF was getting everything to go their way and the Bearcats could not overcome the deficit, eventually falling, 20-25. The second set was almost the complete opposite. The Bearcats got out to a 10-6 lead and would never give the lead back. After a 3-0 run by the Bulls to get within two, the Bearcats took five out of the next seven points to extend the lead back up to four. The Bulls would get close again at 17-16, but the Bearcats would once again go on a run, this time taking eight out of the last 11 points, to win the set, 25-19.
The third set would begin close, but the Bulls went on a massive run and scored 12 out of the last 16 points to win the set. This set felt very similar to the first, when the Bearcats just could not get comfortable, and with seemingly everything going USF's way. But just like the second set, the Bearcats would fight back hard and show some resilience. This set was back-and-forth for the most part, with the Bearcats leading by three or less most of the way. The Bulls tried their best to close out the game, but a 5-0 run by the Bearcats to make the score 24-17 seemingly ended it. The Bulls were not going to let it happen that easily. They followed that with their own 5-0 run to bring themselves within two, but Maria Mallon closed out the set with a kill to make it 25-22.
The Bearcats had a flair for the dramatic tonight. Even though they would begin the fifth and final set on fire, USF would not go down easily. The Bearcats went up 8-2 only for the Bulls to score seven out of the next nine points, making it 10-9. After a few challenges and timeouts, it was tied at 13. Mallon would give the visiting team back the lead, and Abby Walker put the nail in the coffin with a crushing blow that landed directly in the middle of the USF defense. When the dust settled, Cincinnati won 15-13 in the fifth set, coming back from being down two sets to one.
NEXT UP
The Bearcats begin continue American Athletic Conference play Sunday when they will travel to Orlando to take on UCF. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Print Friendly Version