Box Score (PDF)
CINCINNATI, Ohio – SMU and Cincinnati battled it out on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats took the first two sets by a marginal score, but the Mustangs fought back to take the third set with extra points. Cincinnati (8-4, 3-1 AAC) ended up taking the match (25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 26-24) with extra points.
Jadyn Bauss tied her season-high with 14 kills. Three Mustangs hit double-figures in digs and SMU equaled its season-best with 55 assists on the afternoon.
SMU (7-7, 3-1 AAC) began the match with a 13-10 lead. Cincinnati came back to tie the set up at 15. UC grabbed some momentum and regained the lead (21-17). The Mustangs then cut the lead down to one (24-23) after a big kill from
Rachel Woulfe. UC later took the final two points.
Tied at nine in the second set, UC used a 6-1 scoring run, but SMU came all the way back to knot it up at 18. This set saw three more ties, but UC once again grabbed consecutive points when it counted. Woulfe and Bauss combined for eight kills in that set.
The third set was just as close at the previous two. It was 14-14 midway through the set when SMU dug deep to regain and push its lead to four (19-15). The Bearcats never let up and eventually went back out on top (22-21).
Alex Glover and Bauss were the difference in the end as the Mustangs had four key kills late to send the match to a fourth set.
The fourth set was tied at 11, when Cincinnati gathered a large run and pick up a 19-13 advantage. Woulfe had the hot hand helping SMU climb back into the set (22-22). Shannon Williams and Maria Malon were big contributors late and eventually helped UC grab the victory with timely kills.
Following behind Bauss,
Rachel Woulfe and
Kaylyn Winkler both notched 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Lily Heim dished out 48 assists and had one service ace.
Bria' Merchant led the defense with 17 digs, while Heim and
Jamison Wheeler added 11 and 10, respectively. Woulfe tied her career-high with seven total blocks.
Williams and Mallon led UC with 15 kills each. Four Bearcats had double-digit digs on the afternoon.
UP NEXT
SMU will host Tulsa on Friday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
