TicketsMANHATTAN, Kan. – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team earned the program's first-ever Big 12 Conference victory on Saturday night, defeating Kansas State in four sets in Manhattan, Kan.
The Bearcats (8-5, 1-2 Big 12) used a balance offensive attack, led by junior setter Katelyn Lefler who finished with 36 assists, 10 digs and five blocks. It marked her seventh double-double of the season.
Five Bearcats had at least six kills in the match while four finished with double-doubles. Freshman Zeta Washington recorded a team-high 12 kills at a .409 clip while fellow middle blocker Ligia Williams added eight kills and a career-high eight blocks.
Junior Abby Walker hit .348 with 10 kills on the right side. She chipped in 11 digs for her first career double-double. Sophomore Carly Glendinning registered nine kills and 12 digs while senior Elissa Alcantara added six kills.
The Bearcats' defense shined as graduate student libero Carly Skrabak notched 22 digs and was an assist shy of double-double. Cincinnati held the advantage in digs (72-65) and blocks (12-10).
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Cincinnati got off to a 7-1 start in the opening set. The stretch saw the Bearcats score the first five points of the match. Kansas State called a timeout after a Washington ace (11-5). The Wildcats responded with a 5-0 run (11-10). Kansas State scored back-to-back points to take its first lead at 15-14. Cincinnati responded with a 3-0 spurt to maintain the advantage for the remainder of the set, 25-21. Williams and Washington combined for six kills in the set.
SET 2 | The Bearcats struggled in the early going of the second set, trailing 10-5. Cincinnati cut its deficit to two (12-10) with five straight points, including back-to-back kills from Walker. Out of the K-State timeout, the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run to push the set out of reach. Kansas State claimed the second set, 25-18.
SET 3 | The third set saw nine ties and two lead changes. It wasn't until the Bearcats ripped off a 4-0 run to lead 15-12 at the media timeout. Cincinnati then scored five straight points to own a 20-13 advantage. The Bearcats rolled to the set win, 25-16, behind seven digs from Skrabak.
SET 4 | The Bearcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set. The start saw five kills, including a pair from Glendinning. After a 4-0 run by K-State, UC scored three straight (10-6). The Bearcats later rattled off a 6-1 run to cruise to the set win, 25-19. Glendinning had four kills while Walker hit .429 in the set.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats continue a three-match road swing at TCU on Oct. 6-7 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Bearcats (8-5, 1-2 Big 12) used a balance offensive attack, led by junior setter Katelyn Lefler who finished with 36 assists, 10 digs and five blocks. It marked her seventh double-double of the season.
Five Bearcats had at least six kills in the match while four finished with double-doubles. Freshman Zeta Washington recorded a team-high 12 kills at a .409 clip while fellow middle blocker Ligia Williams added eight kills and a career-high eight blocks.
Junior Abby Walker hit .348 with 10 kills on the right side. She chipped in 11 digs for her first career double-double. Sophomore Carly Glendinning registered nine kills and 12 digs while senior Elissa Alcantara added six kills.
The Bearcats' defense shined as graduate student libero Carly Skrabak notched 22 digs and was an assist shy of double-double. Cincinnati held the advantage in digs (72-65) and blocks (12-10).
// HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Cincinnati got off to a 7-1 start in the opening set. The stretch saw the Bearcats score the first five points of the match. Kansas State called a timeout after a Washington ace (11-5). The Wildcats responded with a 5-0 run (11-10). Kansas State scored back-to-back points to take its first lead at 15-14. Cincinnati responded with a 3-0 spurt to maintain the advantage for the remainder of the set, 25-21. Williams and Washington combined for six kills in the set.
SET 2 | The Bearcats struggled in the early going of the second set, trailing 10-5. Cincinnati cut its deficit to two (12-10) with five straight points, including back-to-back kills from Walker. Out of the K-State timeout, the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run to push the set out of reach. Kansas State claimed the second set, 25-18.
SET 3 | The third set saw nine ties and two lead changes. It wasn't until the Bearcats ripped off a 4-0 run to lead 15-12 at the media timeout. Cincinnati then scored five straight points to own a 20-13 advantage. The Bearcats rolled to the set win, 25-16, behind seven digs from Skrabak.
SET 4 | The Bearcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set. The start saw five kills, including a pair from Glendinning. After a 4-0 run by K-State, UC scored three straight (10-6). The Bearcats later rattled off a 6-1 run to cruise to the set win, 25-19. Glendinning had four kills while Walker hit .429 in the set.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats continue a three-match road swing at TCU on Oct. 6-7 in Fort Worth, Texas.