Mountaineers Drop a Sweep at Cincinnati on Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, November 1

Cincinnati, Ohio

1 p.m.

West Virginia University

11-10,4-7Big 12

Cincinnati

11-9,4-6Big 12

Team	1	2	3	Final F
West Virginia	13	17	22	0
Cincinnati	25	25	25	3

Anna Barr goes for an attack at Cincinnati on Nov. 1

November 01, 2026 03:23 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats

By: Farris Murad

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University volleyball team (11-10, 4-7 Big 12) fell to Cincinnati in three sets on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, by set scores of 13-25, 17-25 and 22-25.

The Mountaineers struggled offensively in the opening set, committing 10 attack errors and four service errors. Cincinnati (11-9, 4-6 Big 12) countered with a .286 hitting percentage and capitalized on WVU's mistakes, winning 71% of its sideout opportunities. With just one tie in the frame, the Bearcats held the lead throughout, taking the first set, 25-13.

WVU looked to respond in the second frame, but Cincinnati continued to find success offensively, hitting .483 with 16 kills and two errors. The Mountaineers kept pace early, trailing 6-5, before the Bearcats used a 5-0 run to create separation. Cincinnati maintained its lead for the remainder of the set, taking the second, 25-17.

The Mountaineers showed their strongest push in the third set, opening with a 3-0 run behind a service ace from freshman defensive specialist/libero Cassie Bruns and a pair of Cincinnati attack errors with a block from sophomore right side Anna Barr and freshman middle blocker Cami Huff. The Bearcats responded and eventually built a 9-5 advantage with a 7-0 run.

West Virginia continued to battle, using a stretch of kills from freshman outside hitter Macie Smith, senior outside hitter Nina Horning and Barr to pull within one at 15-14. The Mountaineers then took their first lead of the match at 16-15 following a Barr kill and a block by Barr and senior middle blocker Maddy McGath. The teams traded points down the stretch, with WVU leading 22-21 before Cincinnati scored the final four points to secure the sweep, 25-22.

Barr led the Mountaineers with seven kills and three blocks, while Horning also finished with seven kills. Senior opposite Trinity Sheridan added five kills on 13 attempts, hitting .231. Smith contributed four kills, while McGath recorded three kills and two blocks.

Senior setter Alexis Finnvold led the offense with 13 assists, while freshman setter Lauren Duncan added seven. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Reagan Turk and Finnvold led WVU with six digs each, and the Mountaineers totaled six blocks.

Cincinnati was led by senior outside hitter Sydney Nolan, who recorded a match-high 13 kills while hitting .435. Fifth-year middle blocker Ligia Williams added eight kills on 11 attempts, hitting .455, as the Bearcats outhit West Virginia, .318 to .037.

The Mountaineers are back at home on Sunday, Nov. 8, hosting Colorado at Hope Coliseum. First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUVolleyball on Facebook, Instagram and X.