The Bearcats volleyball team is coming off one of their best seasons ever behind the star rightside/outside hitter Jordan Thompson who has since graduated to follow her professional career overseas. The former All-American is playing on one of the biggest stages in women’s volleyball in the Champions League Overseas. The Bearcats are coming off a historical season going 27-7 (15-1 AAC). They made a historical NCAA tournament run going all the way to the Elite 8 with a five set thriller upset No. 6 ranked Pittsburgh in the Sweet 16. The Bearcats fell just short to Penn State in the Elite 8 in a long hard fought five set match.
Today, the volleyball team earned a lot of recognition with three Preseason All-Conference selections. Junior outside hitter Maria Mallon, junior Outside hitter Armania Heckenmueller, junior middle blocker Adria Oliver.
Maria Mallon played in 114 sets over the span of 32 matches. The junior recorded 432 kills while holding a hitting percentage of .254%. Mallon also recorded 26 assists and 44 service aces on offense. Mallon recorded 344 digs and 27 blocks. The now junior outside looks to fill the hole senior Jordan Thompson has left as she moved on to her pro career overseas.
In 2019 the now junior middle Adria Oliver played in 117 sets over the span of 33 matches. Oliver recorded a excellent sophomore season recording 264 kills over 515 total attempts for a hitting percentage of .355%. Oliver recorded 56 blocks and 31 digs. In 2019 local Cincinnati native (Mount Notre Dame High School) setter Armania Heckenmueller was a key part of the Bearcats offense. Heckenmueller played in 120 sets over the span of 33 matches as well. In Those 33 matches the now Junior recorded 27 kills on 90 attempts for a hitting percentage of .200%. Heckenmueller recorded a impressive 1463 assists, 24 service aces, 249 digs, as well as 27 blocks.
The Bearcats look to get their season underway after being delayed due to Covid-19. They are returning some big key players and these three juniors prove that with the recognition they have received from coaches all around the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats first two matches will be on the road as they travel to Normal, Illinois to take on Illinois State University. Their first home match will be February 6th at 2pm vs crosstown rival Xavier.
