TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team picked up a victory over Big 12 opponent Utah in four sets on Wednesday night inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (10-7, 2-5 Big 12) took down the Utes (9-10, 1-6 Big 12) in impressive fashion. Cincinnati hit .296 as a team and tallied eight service aces, while holding Utah to a .090 hitting percentage and out-blocking the Utes, 11-2.
Junior Sydney Nolan led the attack with 13 kills and a season-high five blocks. Senior Carly Glendinning and sophomore Gretchen Sigman (.476) each added 11 kills as three Bearcats finished in double figures.
Setter Andi Spies recorded a double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs, while Glendinning notched one of her own with 11 kills and a career-high 19 digs.
Freshman Tatjana Simeunovic matched Nolan with five blocks at the net, and senior Paige Pickering tied her career high with three service aces.
The Bearcats came firing out of the gates in the opening frame, jumping out to a 5-0 lead that forced an early Utah timeout. UC continued its dominant start with a 7-0 surge, highlighted by a service ace from Simeunovic to take a commanding 12-2 advantage. A kill by Glendinning extended the margin to 17-7, and moments later, a Spies kill made it 19-8. Cincinnati closed the frame on a 6-0 run to secure a decisive 25-10 victory. The Bearcats held the Utes to a .000 hitting percentage in the first set, while Nolan led the way with six kills on a .417 clip.
The second stanza saw Utah jump ahead 5-3 after a 4-0 run. A kill from Sigman brought UC within one at 6-5, but the Utes responded with another 4-0 stretch to push ahead 10-5. Sparked by three service aces from Pickering, Cincinnati answered with five straight points to take a 12-11 lead. Utah countered with a 4-0 run to move back in front, 16-13. A Glendinning kill cut the deficit to 20-19, but Utah held on for the 25-22 win to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set opened with a strong 7-1 Bearcat surge, featuring three kills to take an 8-4 edge. Utah battled back with a 4-1 run to narrow the gap to 9-8 before tying the frame at 12-all. UC quickly regained control with a 5-0 run, capped by a Lilly Gillespie ace to make it 17-12. Cincinnati closed on another 5-0 run to claim the set, 25-15, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The decisive fourth stanza was even at 7-7 before Cincinnati broke away with a 5-0 burst, punctuated by an Elliott Mickelberry kill to make it 12-7. UC maintained its rhythm, stringing together a pair of 3-0 sequences to widen the gap to 18-9. The Bearcats controlled the rest of the way, closing out the set, 25-16, to seal the match victory.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats continue their homestand against No. 14 Kansas on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m., followed by another home match against Houston on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m.
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