TicketsFORT WORTH, Texas – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team dropped its match in four tightly contested sets to No. 11 TCU on Wednesday night inside Schollmaier Arena.
The Bearcats (10-6, 2-4 Big 12) were defeated by No. 11 TCU (15-3, 5-1 Big 12). Cincinnati impressed at the net, combining for 11 blocks against the Horned Frogs three. TCU narrowly edged UC on the offensive end, tallying a few more kills (63-60) and posting a slightly higher hitting percentage (.320 to .305).
Cincinnati’s outside hitters led the way as senior Carly Glendinning and junior Sydney Nolan each recorded 17 kills. Sophomore setter Andi Spies delivered an all-around effort with a season-high nine kills and 49 assists.
Defensively, three Bearcats stood out at the net — sophomore Gretchen Sigman registered six blocks, freshman Tatjana Simeunović added five and redshirt freshman Brooke Crummel finished with four.
Glendinning also notched her fourth double-double of the season, as she added 13 digs to her stat line.
TCU jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the opening frame before Cincinnati responded with a 6-1 surge capped by a Sigman kill to take an 8-7 advantage. A 3-0 Bearcat spurt extended the lead to 12-10, but TCU regained control with a 10-2 run to go ahead 22-15. UC fought back with a 5-1 stretch highlighted by three kills to close the gap to 20-23, but TCU held on to take the set, 25-21.
In the second frame, the Horned Frogs again came out strong, building an early 6-1 lead. An error widened their margin to 11-5 before the Bearcats answered with a 5-1 run sparked by a Nolan kill to pull within 15-11. The teams traded points through the middle stages, but TCU pulled away late to win the set, 25-19.
Cincinnati came out firing in the third stanza, racing to a 7-3 lead. TCU responded to pull within three at 9-6, but a Glendinning kill stretched the UC lead back to four at 12-8. Back-to-back kills from Nolan capped a 4-1 run that made it 17-13, and a Simeunović kill later ignited another 4-1 spurt to extend the advantage to 21-15. TCU made a late push with a 3-0 run to cut it to 22-19, but Cincinnati closed it out, 25-21, forcing a fourth set.
The final frame was a back-and-forth battle early as the score knotted at 9-9. Highlighted by a Crummel service ace, UC put together a 4-1 run to go up 15-12 before TCU answered with four straight points to take the lead, 16-15. The Horned Frogs carried that momentum with another 4-1 run to widen the gap to 23-18. Cincinnati fought back with a 3-0 spurt to stay alive at 24-22, but TCU held on to take the set, 25-22, and secure the match.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats take a short trip south to face No. 20 Baylor in the Ferrell Center on Friday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. ET.
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