TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team dropped its conference home opener, falling in four sets to SMU on Friday night at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (3-10, 1-2 AAC) could not overcome a strong offensive performance by the Mustangs. SMU hit .381 with 64 kills and only 11 attacking errors on 139 attempts. The Bearcats finished with a clip of .252, but hit below .200 in the first two sets as SMU jumped out to an early advantage.
Sophomore outside hitter Shaye Eggleston registered a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs. She has posted a double-double in three of the Bearcats' last four matches. Freshman outside hitter Carly Glendinning recorded a team-high 18 kills while freshman Avry Tatum was the third Bearcat in double figures, finishing with 10 kills at a .320 clip.
On the defensive end, senior Maria Tobergte posted a season-high 16 digs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Bearcats found themselves in an early hole, dropping the first set by a score of 25-20. After Cincinnati cut its deficit to one (13-12), SMU scored four straight points to take control for the remainder of the frame. The Bearcats hit just .111 in the opening stanza.
SET 2 | The Mustangs used a 5-0 scoring run to take a six-point lead at the midway point of the second set (14-8). The Bearcats were unable to overcome the deficit, falling by a score of 25-17. Tobergte notched six digs and was a perfect 7-of-7 on service reception in the set.
SET 3 | The Bearcats bounced back to win the third set, 25-22, behind a .448 hitting percentage with 15 kills on 29 attempts. In a back-and-forth battle, Eggleston came up clutch with back-to-back kills to put the Bearcats up by three late (20-17). UC held on to win the frame thanks to two final kills from Glendinning.
SET 4 | SMU used a 7-1 scoring run in the fourth and final stanza to cruise to the set win, 25-17. SMU hit .487 in the frame with 20 kills and only one attacking error on 39 attempts (.487).
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will look to bounce back on Sunday when the Bearcats host Memphis at 2 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.