Alex Frank | Sports Director
The Cincinnati Bearcats volleyball team won their second straight 3-0 match as they defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Sunday at newly-renovated Fifth-Third Arena.
Cincinnati’s ability to close out sets was on full display in the first set as they used a 5-1 run to overcome a 22-20 deficit for a 25-23 win.
Just like Stephen Curry making one shot can get him going, so can one set win for the Bearcats.
They used all the momentum gained in the first set to a dominate the next and final two sets, winning both 25-15.
Match point from today’s @GoBearcatsVB match! Another 3-0 win! pic.twitter.com/B2ueFF942E
— Bearcast Media Sports (@UCMediaSports) November 4, 2018
Perfect weekend
The win Sunday for the Bearcats finished off a weekend that saw them sweep both matches after defeating Wichita State 3-0 on Friday.
“It was a tremendous weekend for the Bearcats,” Alvey said. “All around, just a really fantastic performance.”
Not only did the Bearcats sweep both matches during the weekend, they did so in their first two matches at newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena.
“Besides the performance on the court, the arena is amazing, and the fan support is what we want to create as UC volleyball,” Alvey said.
Both matches over the weekend drew a combined 3,109 fans.
All set to go here at Fifth-Third! pic.twitter.com/aqyZLNI7rp
— Bearcast Media Sports (@UCMediaSports) November 4, 2018
Here we stand
The win Sunday keeps the Bearcats alone in second place in the American Athletic Conference at 11-2.
“We definitely came out of the weekend improving,” Alvey said. “And I think we came out of the last two weeks very improved.”
Cincinnati will travel for the final time this season as they take on the conference-leading Central Florida Knights Friday at 7 p.m. and then the South Florida Bulls Sunday at 1 p.m.
Looking to make a revenge statement
The Bearcats lost a tough five-set home match to the Knights, who were picked to finish fifth in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, back on Sunday Oct. 21.
That match was for first place in the conference at the time.
While this Friday’s matchup can’t put the Bearcats back atop the conference, they can still make a statement in avenging their home loss to the Knights on the road at Central Florida.