TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team returns home for a two-match series versus No. 20-ranked Baylor, beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats will also face the Bears at 6 p.m. on Friday for the program's annual Breast Cancer Awareness match.
Cincinnati's matches will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+ and can be followed at StatBroadcast.
// SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs. Cincinnati claimed the first-ever meeting in four sets back in 1988. The Bears won the second meeting in straight sets in 1992. Both matchups came on neutral floors.
Cincinnati is looking for its first regular season ranked win since Sept. 6, 2019 when the Bearcats defeated No. 21 Tennessee in straight sets. The Bearcats also took down No. 2-ranked and No. 6-seeded Pitt that season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati split a two-match series with TCU last weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bearcats downed the Horned Frogs in five sets on Friday before falling in straight sets on Saturday. The Bearcats moved to 4-1 in true road matches for their best road start in 20 years.
TCU is No. 33 in RPI and was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll. Friday's win marked the Bearcats' first five-set win of the season.
Freshman middle blocker Zeta Washington totaled a team-high 19 kills at a .359 hitting percentage (19-5-39) in the five-set victory. She added five digs, four blocks and an ace in the performance. She averaged 3.50 kills per set at a .302 hitting percentage in the two matches against TCU.
Sophomore Carly Glendinning recorded her first double-double of the season on Friday, finishing with season highs in kills (14) and digs (15). She had 11 kills in the first two sets of action.
// MADE IN THE MIDDLE
Cincinnati has received valuable contributions from middle blockers Ligia Williams and Zeta Washington in Big 12 play. Washington is averaging 2.89 kills per set at a .317 clip while Williams is averaging 2.21 kills per set at a .276 clip. Williams (1.13) and Washington (1.10) rank 11th and 12th, respectively, in the Big 12 in blocks per set.
In Big 12 matches only, Williams ranks seventh in blocks per set with 1.26. She tied her career-high eight blocks in UC's win at Kansas State. The mark leads the league for a four-set match in conference play.
Washington ranks seventh in the Big 12 in hitting percentage, hitting .342 overall. She tallied 19 kills at a .359 clip in UC's five-set win over TCU.
// DIGGIN' THE DEFENSE
The Bearcats have out-dug their opponents in 11 of 15 matches this season. UC is 8-3 when owning the advantage in digs.
Cincinnati has held the advantage in digs in each of its Big 12 victories: K-State (72-65) and TCU (80-70). UC ranks second in the Big 12 and 50th nationally in digs per set (15.75).
Cincinnati posted a season-high 91 digs against South Carolina on Sept. 9. It marked the most digs in a single match since October 15, 2021 when the Bearcats had 93 against Tulsa.
// STEADY SKRABAK
Graduate student Carly Skrabak is averaging 4.14 digs per set as the team's starting libero - good for fourth in the Big 12. She has led the team in digs in all but two matches this season. She's currently 17th among active career DI leaders with 1,723 career digs. She is 277 digs away from 2,000 in her career.
She has posted 20-plus digs on four occasions. Her season-high of 24 digs came against UCF on Sept. 21. The mark leads the Big 12 for a four-set match in conference play.
// THIS IS VOLLEYBALL COUNTRY
Six Big 12 schools are ranked in the AVCA/Taraflex Division I Coaches Poll. Texas is No. 7, BYU is No. 9, Kansas is No. 16, Baylor is No. 20, Houston is No. 21 and Iowa State is No. 25. UCF received votes. The six teams ranked are the most of any league and the 46% of the league in the top 25 is the highest percentage of any conference.
Entering this week, eight Big 12 schools rank inside the top 50 of the RPI rankings. Texas is No. 4, BYU is No. 16, Kansas is No. 25, Baylor is No. 28, UCF is No. 31, TCU is No. 33, Iowa State is No. 34 and Houston is No. 47. The eight schools inside the top 50 ties for the most of any league. Cincinnati is No. 117 in RPI.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats hit the road for a two-match series against West Virginia on Oct. 19-20 in Morgantown, W.Va.
// POINT BEARCATS CLUB
Cincinnati volleyball has announced the launch of Point Bearcats Club with memberships now on sale for the 2023 season. Point Bearcats Club allows fans to directly support the Cincinnati volleyball program and receive exclusive Cincinnati volleyball perks. Click here to become a member today!
// GROUP EXPERIENCES
Register your group for our pregame fan tunnel, anthem buddies, or pregame photo with Coach Molly Alvey this season. Groups will also receive a PA shoutout on the videoboard. Click here to sign up today!
// BIRTHDAYS WITH THE BEARCAT
Want to celebrate your birthday at a University of Cincinnati home volleyball match? This season you can request a birthday party for your child or loved one. Click here to sign up!
The Bearcats will also face the Bears at 6 p.m. on Friday for the program's annual Breast Cancer Awareness match.
Cincinnati's matches will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+ and can be followed at StatBroadcast.
// SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs. Cincinnati claimed the first-ever meeting in four sets back in 1988. The Bears won the second meeting in straight sets in 1992. Both matchups came on neutral floors.
Cincinnati is looking for its first regular season ranked win since Sept. 6, 2019 when the Bearcats defeated No. 21 Tennessee in straight sets. The Bearcats also took down No. 2-ranked and No. 6-seeded Pitt that season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati split a two-match series with TCU last weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bearcats downed the Horned Frogs in five sets on Friday before falling in straight sets on Saturday. The Bearcats moved to 4-1 in true road matches for their best road start in 20 years.
TCU is No. 33 in RPI and was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll. Friday's win marked the Bearcats' first five-set win of the season.
Freshman middle blocker Zeta Washington totaled a team-high 19 kills at a .359 hitting percentage (19-5-39) in the five-set victory. She added five digs, four blocks and an ace in the performance. She averaged 3.50 kills per set at a .302 hitting percentage in the two matches against TCU.
Sophomore Carly Glendinning recorded her first double-double of the season on Friday, finishing with season highs in kills (14) and digs (15). She had 11 kills in the first two sets of action.
// MADE IN THE MIDDLE
Cincinnati has received valuable contributions from middle blockers Ligia Williams and Zeta Washington in Big 12 play. Washington is averaging 2.89 kills per set at a .317 clip while Williams is averaging 2.21 kills per set at a .276 clip. Williams (1.13) and Washington (1.10) rank 11th and 12th, respectively, in the Big 12 in blocks per set.
In Big 12 matches only, Williams ranks seventh in blocks per set with 1.26. She tied her career-high eight blocks in UC's win at Kansas State. The mark leads the league for a four-set match in conference play.
Washington ranks seventh in the Big 12 in hitting percentage, hitting .342 overall. She tallied 19 kills at a .359 clip in UC's five-set win over TCU.
// DIGGIN' THE DEFENSE
The Bearcats have out-dug their opponents in 11 of 15 matches this season. UC is 8-3 when owning the advantage in digs.
Cincinnati has held the advantage in digs in each of its Big 12 victories: K-State (72-65) and TCU (80-70). UC ranks second in the Big 12 and 50th nationally in digs per set (15.75).
Cincinnati posted a season-high 91 digs against South Carolina on Sept. 9. It marked the most digs in a single match since October 15, 2021 when the Bearcats had 93 against Tulsa.
// STEADY SKRABAK
Graduate student Carly Skrabak is averaging 4.14 digs per set as the team's starting libero - good for fourth in the Big 12. She has led the team in digs in all but two matches this season. She's currently 17th among active career DI leaders with 1,723 career digs. She is 277 digs away from 2,000 in her career.
She has posted 20-plus digs on four occasions. Her season-high of 24 digs came against UCF on Sept. 21. The mark leads the Big 12 for a four-set match in conference play.
// THIS IS VOLLEYBALL COUNTRY
Six Big 12 schools are ranked in the AVCA/Taraflex Division I Coaches Poll. Texas is No. 7, BYU is No. 9, Kansas is No. 16, Baylor is No. 20, Houston is No. 21 and Iowa State is No. 25. UCF received votes. The six teams ranked are the most of any league and the 46% of the league in the top 25 is the highest percentage of any conference.
Entering this week, eight Big 12 schools rank inside the top 50 of the RPI rankings. Texas is No. 4, BYU is No. 16, Kansas is No. 25, Baylor is No. 28, UCF is No. 31, TCU is No. 33, Iowa State is No. 34 and Houston is No. 47. The eight schools inside the top 50 ties for the most of any league. Cincinnati is No. 117 in RPI.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats hit the road for a two-match series against West Virginia on Oct. 19-20 in Morgantown, W.Va.
// POINT BEARCATS CLUB
Cincinnati volleyball has announced the launch of Point Bearcats Club with memberships now on sale for the 2023 season. Point Bearcats Club allows fans to directly support the Cincinnati volleyball program and receive exclusive Cincinnati volleyball perks. Click here to become a member today!
// GROUP EXPERIENCES
Register your group for our pregame fan tunnel, anthem buddies, or pregame photo with Coach Molly Alvey this season. Groups will also receive a PA shoutout on the videoboard. Click here to sign up today!
// BIRTHDAYS WITH THE BEARCAT
Want to celebrate your birthday at a University of Cincinnati home volleyball match? This season you can request a birthday party for your child or loved one. Click here to sign up!