UC loses first match against No. 20 Baylor

The University of Cincinnati (UC) volleyball team welcomed No. 20 Baylor University to Fifth Third Arena Thursday night. This is the first time the Bearcats and the Bears have met since 1992. Cincinnati is now 1-2 against Baylor all time. 

Cincinnati split against its Big 12 opponent, Texas Christian University (TCU), last weekend. The Bearcats took down the Hornets in five sets on Friday before getting swept the next day. Despite this, the Bearcats have had their best road start in 20 years, going 4-1. 

The Bearcats focused their attention on a two-game series against Baylor. In the first set on Thursday night, Baylor started early, going on a 5-0 run (9-5). The Bears added to their lead after scoring five straight points, with two being aces (15-8). 

Cincinnati would battle back with kills from freshman Zeta Washington and redshirt sophomore Ligia Williams but ultimately drop the set to the Bears 25-17. 

The second set started off close with good play from both sides. A kill from sophomore Carly Glendinning would put UC within one (9-8). The Bears would follow up with a 5-0 run against the Bearcats pushing the set out of reach (14-8). 

The Bearcats would fight back later in the set with five straight kills from sophomore Carly Glendinning, but they ultimately fell to the Bears 25-19. 

Glendinning led the Bearcats in kills at 15 while also adding two blocks and one ace. 

Baylor started the third set off early behind a 5-0 run (6-1). The Bearcats would keep up with the Bears into the set before pulling away behind kills from sophomore Carly Glendinning and junior Abby Walker. 

UC’s outside hitters, sophomore Carly Glendinning and senior Elissa Alcantara, showed up with nine kills. The Bearcats avoided getting swept and won the third set 25-19 against the Bears. 

Cincinnati carried momentum from the third set into the fourth one with an early 5-0 run from a kill by senior Elissa Alcantara and blocks by sophomore Ligia Williams and junior Abby Walker (9-5). Baylor would respond with a 3-0 run to even the set at 12 apiece. 

The Bearcats tried to keep up, but the Bears would end up taking control of the set with a 7-1 run. Baylor took the fourth set 25-21 to beat the Bearcats. 

The Bearcats, currently 9-7, will be back in action soon, visiting West Virginia for a two-game series starting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 19.