Women’s volleyball drops Big 12 game one to UCF

The University of Cincinnati (UC) volleyball team lost to its first Big 12 volleyball opponent, the University of Central Florida (UCF), on Thursday night 3-1. UC has now lost eight games in a row against the Black Knights.

Cincinnati concluded non-conference play last weekend, going 1-1 at the Tru by Hilton Dayton Beavercreek Invitational. In Dayton, UC lost a close one against Butler. Graduate student Jadyn Bauss led the way with 21 kills and 11 digs, earning her fourth double-double. 

Senior Elissa Alcantara notched 11 kills at a .360 clip in 3 sets of play. Despite this, Butler outhit UC .235 to .151 and held a 14-10 advantage in blocks. The Bearcats forced 5 sets but ultimately fell short 3-2. UC quickly turned it around the next day and won against Wright State 3-1. 

Junior Abby Walker led the way with a match-high 12 kills at .393 hitting percentage. Junior Katelyn Lefler had 32 assists along with 13 digs, earning her seventh double-double of the season. UC had nine blocks and held Wright State to a .178 hitting percentage. 

UC ended non-conference play with a record of 7-3 and shifted their attention to Big 12 games starting on Thursday. In the first set, UCF went on a 6-0 run to lead 9-5, followed by a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 18-9. 

Cincinnati came within seven after a 3-0 run led by kills from freshman Zeta Washington and sophomore Carly Glendinning. The Bearcats would not get any closer, though, and dropped the first set 25-17. 

UCF, ranked second in the country in aces, had four aces and hit .394. In the second set, three of Cincinnati’s first four points were blocks. UCF kept up with Cincinnati but was forced to take a timeout after back-to-back kills by senior Elissa Alcantara. 

UCF responded with a 5-0 run until redshirt sophomore Ligia Willaims slammed down three straight kills for UC. UCF ended the set with a 5-1 run to win 25-21. 

Williams recorded a team high 14 kills in the match and tied Zeta Washington in blocks with five.

Going back and forth to begin the third set, the Bearcats then scored four straight to lead 11-10. The two went back and forth until a 4-0 run gave UC a three-point lead, 19-16. The Knights responded with four straight points to even the score at 20 apiece. The Bearcats’ middle blockers came up big, scoring three of UC’s final four points to win the set 25-22. 

In the fourth set, UCF started early taking a 9-6 lead. Cincinnati reclaimed the lead 15-12 after a kill by freshman Zeta Washington. UCF scored five straight points, but UC came back and tied it 18-18. 

The set had thirteen ties and seven lead changes, but UCF held on to win 25-23 and take the match. 

The Bearcats, currently 7-5, will be back in action at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in Manhattan, Kansas against the Kansas State Wildcats, currently 7-4. 

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ Big 12 Now.