TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team concluded its 2024 season with a hard-fought battle against No. 22 TCU on Friday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats fell in four sets, finishing the year with a 14-15 overall record and 5-13 mark in Big 12 play.
Friday's match also served as Senior Day, honoring the contributions of Abby Walker, Molly Harrison, Irbe Lazda, Katelyn Lefler and Julie Wittekind. The senior class left their mark in their final appearance in the Red and Black. Lefler recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 41 assists and 13 digs. Wittekind tallied 11 digs while Lazda and Walker combined for 12 kills. Harrison, wearing the libero jersey, registered two aces and five digs.
Sophomore Sydney Nolan capped off a stellar finish to her season with a team-high 21 kills on a .340 hitting percentage. She tallied 20+ kills in three of her last four matches.
After trailing by four points midway through the opening frame, the Bearcats mounted a 6-0 run behind Harrison's serve to lead 23-21, highlighted by two of her aces. TCU rallied to even the score at 24-all and edged Cincinnati in a 28-26 extra-point set.
The Horned Frogs rode two 5-0 runs to a 14-6 advantage. Cincinnati was held to a .026 hitting percentage, dropping the set 25-18.
The Bearcats found their rhythm late in the third set, closing on a 6-1 run to secure a 25-21 victory and extend the match. Cincinnati carried its momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead with aces from Gillespie and Walker. However, TCU responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead at 14-12. The Bearcats fought back with a 5-0 spurt, but TCU's Melanie Parra delivered a decisive seven-point service run to seal the match with a 25-20 set win.
The Bearcats fell in four sets, finishing the year with a 14-15 overall record and 5-13 mark in Big 12 play.
Friday's match also served as Senior Day, honoring the contributions of Abby Walker, Molly Harrison, Irbe Lazda, Katelyn Lefler and Julie Wittekind. The senior class left their mark in their final appearance in the Red and Black. Lefler recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 41 assists and 13 digs. Wittekind tallied 11 digs while Lazda and Walker combined for 12 kills. Harrison, wearing the libero jersey, registered two aces and five digs.
Sophomore Sydney Nolan capped off a stellar finish to her season with a team-high 21 kills on a .340 hitting percentage. She tallied 20+ kills in three of her last four matches.
After trailing by four points midway through the opening frame, the Bearcats mounted a 6-0 run behind Harrison's serve to lead 23-21, highlighted by two of her aces. TCU rallied to even the score at 24-all and edged Cincinnati in a 28-26 extra-point set.
The Horned Frogs rode two 5-0 runs to a 14-6 advantage. Cincinnati was held to a .026 hitting percentage, dropping the set 25-18.
The Bearcats found their rhythm late in the third set, closing on a 6-1 run to secure a 25-21 victory and extend the match. Cincinnati carried its momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead with aces from Gillespie and Walker. However, TCU responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead at 14-12. The Bearcats fought back with a 5-0 spurt, but TCU's Melanie Parra delivered a decisive seven-point service run to seal the match with a 25-20 set win.