Sunday the Bearcats hit the road to Wichita, Kansas where they took on Wichita State as they were looking to make it 5 matches in a row and keep the hot streak rolling. Coming into the match the Bearcats were 11-4 (5-1 AAC) However, the Bearcats weren’t the only ones on a 4 game winning streak as the Shockers, were also riding a 4 game winning streak. Wichita State came into the match at 10-5 overall, (4-3 AAC.) so the Bearcats werent expecting an easy battle with a very good Wichita State team.
The starters for the Bearcats vs the Shockers were, Kailea Carrier, Shannon Williams, Payton Frederick, Maria Mallon, Maria Tobergte, Emme Madden, Abby Walker.
Set 1- The Bearcats jumped out to a quick and early 3-0 lead following two errors by the Shockers and a Maria Tobergte kill. The Bearcats had all the momentum after that early rally, as they then had a side out and jumped out to an even bigger lead to open the set to 6-1 after a kill from Kailea Carrier and back to back kills by Shannon Williams. However, the Shockers weren’t going away anytime soon as they found their momentum and cut off a quick 3 point run and all the momentum flipped as the Shockers cut the Bearcats lead to 3 when they trailed 7-4. The Shockers on the other hand rattled off another 3 point swing as they have then outscored the Bearcats 6-1 to tie this match, after a big kill, attacking error by Sarah Norcom, and a shocker service ace, this was a brand new set as it was now 7-7. The set was back and forth until the shockers went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-11 lead. The Bearcats would cut the shockers lead to 1 after a service ace by the Shockers, and kills by Abby Walker and Shannon Williams. The Shockers then jumped out to a 3 point swing to take a 18-14 lead over the Bearcats late in set 1. The Bearcats found some momentum late after a kill from Maria Mallon and a service ace by Abby Walker to cut the deficit to 2. The Bearcats fought hard to tie this set up at 22 behind a Maria Mallon kill and service ace. The Bearcats would eventually fall 25-23 in set 1, but they really flipped the momentum in their favor late in Set 1 heading into Set 2.
Set 2- Just like Set 1 the Bearcats found themselves in a big 7-2 lead early after kills by Shannon Williams, Madison Waters, Abby Walker and Maria Mallon, The Bearcats setter Emme Madden was sharing the ball around between all the Bearcat hitters and did a fantastic job getting everyone involved. However, the shockers cut the lead to 3 after a kill and back to back attacking errors by the Bearcats. The Shockers however went cut the 8-5 lead and came back to tie this set after back to back kills by Sophie Childs, and Morgan Weber. The Bearcats then jumped out to a 13-10 lead after kills by Maria Mallon, and Madison Waters. The Bearcats didnt stop there as they then went on a 4 point swing after the shockers side out to jump to a 17-11 after kills by Kailea Carrier and consecutive kills by Shannon Williams. The Bearcats were then in the drivers seat the rest of the way and eventually took Set 2, 25-19 to tie this match up 1-1.
Set 3- After Trailing 3-1 early the Bearcats then went on a run to take a 5-3 lead after consecutive service aces from Kerstin Ficker, and a huge kill from Madison Waters. The Bearcats didnt stop there however, as they rattled off kills by Maria Mallon, Madison Waters, Abby Walker to take an 8-4 lead. The Bearcats kept the shockers off balanced as the offense was clicking as Maria Mallon had back to back kills, to help give the Bearcats a 13-6 lead, and you could sense the connection Emme Madden and her senior outside hitter was having as the Bearcats offense was looking to keep the ball rolling. The Bearcats established an early 7 point lead and they never looked back as they led 23-16 before the shockers scored 4 consecutive points to cut the deficit to 23-20 before back to back kills by Kailea Carrier to give the Bearcats a 2 set to 1 advantage as they hung on to win set three 25-21.
