Tonight, the Bearcats (3-9) (1-1 AAC) welcomed in the SMU Mustangs (9-6) (2-1 AAC) to Fifth Third Arena for their first home conference match of the season as they look to bounce back in the win column after a 3 set to 1 loss from Houston on Sunday. The Bearcats are coming into conference play 1-1 after a weekend split between Tulane and Houston where they were led by Carly Glendinning, as the freshman outside left her mark for the Bearcats last weekend where here dominant performances would earn here a spot on the AAC Honor roll after she racked up 36 kills, averaging 4.50 kills per set, while she hit .300% (a career high) and .280% in the teams two matches last weekend and has been a very big part of the Bearcats offense to start her collegiate career. The Bearcats would see Emme Madden back in action after missing the teams first 12 matches, as she is coming off her freshman season where she recorded 30 kills, 978 assists, 251 digs, and 35 blocks for the Bearcats.
Starters for the Bearcats- Emme Madden, Abby Walker, Kailea Carrier, Payton Frederick, Shaye Eggleston, Marie Tobergte and Avry Tatum.
Starters for the Mustangs- Landon Austin-Roark, Celia Cullem. Jadyn Bauss, Meriek Van Der Mark, Tatum Ticknor, Jamison Wheeler, Alex Glover.
Set 1- The Bearcats would take their first lead of the match after an Abby Walker service ace gave the Bearcats a 4-3 lead in set one here at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats would jump out to a 5-3 lead following a huge solo block from freshman Carly Glendinning where she was looking to pick right up where she left off after being tabbed to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll earlier this week. The Mustangs would take an 11-8 lead moments later following a Merieke Van Der Mark kill, and Jadyn Bauss service ace that forced Coach Molly Alvey to take an early timeout. The Bearcats would start to run the 6-2 offense between Caroline Endres and Emme Madden the Bearcats were looking to keep the Mustangs off balance as they looked to cut the deficit early. The Mustangs would put their foot on the gas and take a 17-12 lead following a four-point run as the Bearcats were forced to call their final timeout of the set as they looked to flip momentum here late in the set. The Mustangs would keep their foot on the gas as they would take Set 1, 25-20 despite the Bearcats gaining some momentum late after huge blocks from Avry Tatum, and Carrier. The Bearcats were led by sophomore outside Shaye Eggleston who finished with a team high four kills while hitting .364% on the match.
Set 2- The Bearcats and Mustangs would be tied up at 4 after a successful challenge by Bearcats head coach Molly Alvey would look to swing some momentum the Bearcats way as they looked to break this one open early. The Mustangs would rattle off another 4-point run like they did in Set 1, as they knew how important these runs are in the sport of volleyball as they took an early 8-4 lead over the Bearcats. The Bearcats would rattle back and make this a 9-8 match following consecutive kills from Tatum on the right-side pin. The Mustangs would respond right away with a 5-point run as they opened this one up as they held a 14-8 lead over the Bearcats following three consecutive Bearcats errors. The Bearcats would look to gain some momentum late, but the Mustangs took advantage of their early lead and never looked as they would take Set 2, 25-17 and hold a 2 set to 0 lead over the Bearcats, as coach Alvey and company knew they had to make some adjustments here at Fifth Third Arena to avoid the sweep.
