TicketsPROVO, Utah – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team went the distance against No. 10-ranked Pitt, before falling in five sets on Friday at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah.
Sophomore middle blocker Abby Walker put together a stellar performance, registering a career-high 23 kills at an efficient .400 clip. She added five blocks, two digs and an ace in the loss.
Freshman setter Caroline Endres dished out a personal-best 52 assists and tied her career-high four service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Ligia Williams posted 10 kills and five blocks while redshirt senior right-side Kailea Carrier notched eight kills and five blocks.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Bearcats found themselves down 14-11 in the first set before rattling off five straight points to grab the lead for good (16-14). Carrier came up with clutch kills down the stretch as Cincinnati won the opening frame, 25-20. The Bearcats posted four service aces in the stanza, including three from senior libero Payton Frederick.
SET 2 | Cincinnati then dropped the second set 25-20, tying the match at a set apiece. In a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers finished the frame on a 6-1 scoring run. Pitt hit .419 in the set compared to UC's mark of .294.
SET 3 | Cincinnati went up 2-1 in the match after winning the third set, 25-23. The Bearcats led by as many as five (21-16) before Pitt went on a 6-1 run (22-22). UC responded scoring three of the final four points in the frame. Walker and Williams combined for nine kills to lead the Bearcat attack.
SET 4 | The Panthers forced a fifth set with a 25-19 fourth-set victory. The Bearcats trailed by as many as eight points (13-5) before fighting their way back late in the set (19-19). Pitt staved off the comeback attempt, scoring the final six points in the stanza.
SET 5 | Pitt finished the match on a 21-5 scoring run, claiming the fifth set, 15-5, and match, 3-2. The Bearcats struggled offensively, hitting at a set-low clip of .059.
Sophomore middle blocker Abby Walker put together a stellar performance, registering a career-high 23 kills at an efficient .400 clip. She added five blocks, two digs and an ace in the loss.
Freshman setter Caroline Endres dished out a personal-best 52 assists and tied her career-high four service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Ligia Williams posted 10 kills and five blocks while redshirt senior right-side Kailea Carrier notched eight kills and five blocks.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Bearcats found themselves down 14-11 in the first set before rattling off five straight points to grab the lead for good (16-14). Carrier came up with clutch kills down the stretch as Cincinnati won the opening frame, 25-20. The Bearcats posted four service aces in the stanza, including three from senior libero Payton Frederick.
SET 2 | Cincinnati then dropped the second set 25-20, tying the match at a set apiece. In a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers finished the frame on a 6-1 scoring run. Pitt hit .419 in the set compared to UC's mark of .294.
SET 3 | Cincinnati went up 2-1 in the match after winning the third set, 25-23. The Bearcats led by as many as five (21-16) before Pitt went on a 6-1 run (22-22). UC responded scoring three of the final four points in the frame. Walker and Williams combined for nine kills to lead the Bearcat attack.
SET 4 | The Panthers forced a fifth set with a 25-19 fourth-set victory. The Bearcats trailed by as many as eight points (13-5) before fighting their way back late in the set (19-19). Pitt staved off the comeback attempt, scoring the final six points in the stanza.
SET 5 | Pitt finished the match on a 21-5 scoring run, claiming the fifth set, 15-5, and match, 3-2. The Bearcats struggled offensively, hitting at a set-low clip of .059.