Mountaineers Drop Five Set Heartbreaker to Cincinnati

Friday, October 20

Morgantown, W.Va.

6 p.m.

West Virginia University

9-13,2-7Big 12

Cincinnati

10-9,3-6Big 12

Cincinnati

West Virginia

October 20, 2023 10:30 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Elizabeth Stash

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team (9-13, 2-8 Big 12) fell in five sets to the Bearcats on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the WVU Coliseum. Cincinnati claimed the victory with scores of 27-25, 21-25, 25-16, 22-25 and 16-14.

Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Miller collected a double-double leading the squad with 16 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Tierney Jackson and junior outside hitter Hailey Green with 14 and 13, respectively.

Redshirt senior setter Lauren DeLo collected 46 of West Virginia's 51 assists, along with 12 digs. Freshman middle blocker Maddy McGath led with six total blocks, with freshman middle blocker Emma Beretich adding five.

Collectively, West Virginia had 63 digs, eight service aces and 14 total blocks.

West Virginia trailed early in the first, 6-3, before tying the match at eight with a five-point scoring run. The Mountaineers knotted the score again at 15, thanks to a pair of service aces from sophomore defensive specialist Samiha Foster. A late 4-0 run from WVU would gave themselves the lead, 24-23. The Bearcats responded with three straight points, capturing the first set 27-25.

The Mountaineers started off hot in the second, with a 3-0 advantage. The Bearcats went on to put up three straight points and took the lead for the first time in the second at 8-7. A quick response from Green with a kill sent West Virginia on a run of its own to take a 12-8 lead. A kill and service ace from Miller would set West Virginia ahead by seven points at the 19-12 mark. WVU went on to close out the second with another kill from Miller and UC error, 25-21.

With both team trading points in the third, Jackson got the kill to bring the score to only two points apart, 10-8. Sophomore opposite Melanie McGann would rattle the Bearcats with West Virginia trailing, 18-13. A six-point run at the end of the set would solidify the third for Cincinnati, 25-16.

A kill from Mille set the tone at the start of the fourth set for West Virginia, and a four-point run gave the Mountaineers the 12-7 upper hand. A pair of kills from Jackson and a kill by McGath pushed WVU ahead with a 18-14 lead. Jackson went on to secure the set, 25-22 for West Virginia.

The Mountaineers struck first in the fifth and final set with kills from Miller and Jackson. The Bearcats responded with five straight points, to take a 6-3 lead. West Virginia answered back with a 4-0 run, taking the lead, 11-9. A string of points from UC sealed the match for the opposing squad, 16-14.

West Virginia will travel to Lawrence, Kansas on Thursday, Oct. 26 and Friday, Oct. 27 to face off against the Kansas Jayhawks. Both matches will be held at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena, and are slated for 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.