TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team suffered a five-set loss to rival Xavier in the Queen City Classic on Saturday night at the Cintas Center.
The Bearcats conclude non-conference play with a record of 2-8. Cincinnati will now turn its attention to its AAC slate, scheduled to begin at Tulane on Sept. 23.
Cincinnati hit a season-best .286 behind a career-high 67 assists from freshman setter Caroline Endres. Her 67 assists are tied for the seventh-most in a match in the rally scoring era in program history. Three players finished with double-digit kills, including a match-high 20 kills from sophomore Abby Walker, who hit at a .390 clip.
Freshman Avry Tatum put down a career-high 18 kills at a .293 clip to go along with three blocks. Sophomore Shaye Eggleston registered her first double-double as a Bearcat with season bests in kills (14) and digs (17).
Along with Eggleston, seniors Payton Frederick (15) and Maria Tobergte (13) finished with double-digit digs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Bearcats struggled to pass in the early going, falling behind 9-4 in the first set. Despite the slow start, UC started to find its rhythm, going on a 6-1 scoring run to cut its deficit to two (21-19). But, Xavier scored four of the final six points to take the opening frame, 25-21. The Musketeers hit .471 with 17 kills and only one attacking error on 34 attempts.
SET 2 | The two teams traded points to begin the second set before Cincinnati rattled off four straight points, highlighted by three blocks (11-7). Xavier pulled within one point on several occasions, but the Bearcats never relinquished the lead, winning the set 25-20. Eggleston and Walker each registered four kills in the stanza.
SET 3 | In a set of runs, Cincinnati came out on top, winning the third set 25-21. UC used a pair of scoring runs to take a 11-9 lead before Xavier recorded four straight points to reclaim the advantage (15-13). After the two teams traded runs once again, Cincinnati finished the frame off with three of the final four points.
SET 4 | Cincinnati jumped out to a 7-1 advantage in the fourth set. Xavier fought back to even the set at 18 apiece. The two teams then traded points for the remainder of the frame until Xavier notched back-to-back points to win the set in extra points, 37-35.
SET 5 | The Bearcats were down 8-3 when the two teams switched sides in the fifth and final set. Cincinnati could not overcome the early deficit, falling 15-7 in the final frame.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati opens AAC play with a pair of road matches against Tulane (Sept. 23) and Houston (Sept. 25).
The Bearcats conclude non-conference play with a record of 2-8. Cincinnati will now turn its attention to its AAC slate, scheduled to begin at Tulane on Sept. 23.
Cincinnati hit a season-best .286 behind a career-high 67 assists from freshman setter Caroline Endres. Her 67 assists are tied for the seventh-most in a match in the rally scoring era in program history. Three players finished with double-digit kills, including a match-high 20 kills from sophomore Abby Walker, who hit at a .390 clip.
Freshman Avry Tatum put down a career-high 18 kills at a .293 clip to go along with three blocks. Sophomore Shaye Eggleston registered her first double-double as a Bearcat with season bests in kills (14) and digs (17).
Along with Eggleston, seniors Payton Frederick (15) and Maria Tobergte (13) finished with double-digit digs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Bearcats struggled to pass in the early going, falling behind 9-4 in the first set. Despite the slow start, UC started to find its rhythm, going on a 6-1 scoring run to cut its deficit to two (21-19). But, Xavier scored four of the final six points to take the opening frame, 25-21. The Musketeers hit .471 with 17 kills and only one attacking error on 34 attempts.
SET 2 | The two teams traded points to begin the second set before Cincinnati rattled off four straight points, highlighted by three blocks (11-7). Xavier pulled within one point on several occasions, but the Bearcats never relinquished the lead, winning the set 25-20. Eggleston and Walker each registered four kills in the stanza.
SET 3 | In a set of runs, Cincinnati came out on top, winning the third set 25-21. UC used a pair of scoring runs to take a 11-9 lead before Xavier recorded four straight points to reclaim the advantage (15-13). After the two teams traded runs once again, Cincinnati finished the frame off with three of the final four points.
SET 4 | Cincinnati jumped out to a 7-1 advantage in the fourth set. Xavier fought back to even the set at 18 apiece. The two teams then traded points for the remainder of the frame until Xavier notched back-to-back points to win the set in extra points, 37-35.
SET 5 | The Bearcats were down 8-3 when the two teams switched sides in the fifth and final set. Cincinnati could not overcome the early deficit, falling 15-7 in the final frame.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati opens AAC play with a pair of road matches against Tulane (Sept. 23) and Houston (Sept. 25).