Volleyball: WVU Battles with No. 21 Cincinnati

By Kelly Tuckwiller for WVUsports.com
November 06, 2010 01:04 PM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– The West Virginia University volleyball team fell to No. 21 Cincinnati in a hard fought match this afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.

The Bearcats improved to 23-4 (10-1 BIG EAST) as they defeated the Mountaineers (14-13, 4-7 BIG EAST) in a 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-10, 15-10) match.

The Mountaineers came out fighting in set one as kills from seniors Abby Norman and Andrea Miller and junior Kylie Armbruster, followed by a block from Norman and Armbruster put WVU up 8-5. WVU continued maintain the lead for most of the set before the Bearcats made a 5-0 run to tie the score at 23. Junior Michelle Kopecky then secured the victory for the Mountaineers with a kill.

WVU started with a 3-2 advantage in set two after kills from Armbruster and Norman. However, Cincinnati returned with another 5-0 run to take back the lead as the Bearcats went on to post 13 kills and 19 digs for the win.

Set three started in favor of the Bearcats, until a kill from Andrea Miller sent WVU on a 6-0 run for an 8-3 lead. Jordanne Scott stepped up for Cincinnati to post seven kills in the set, but it was not enough to stop the Mountaineers as they recorded four team blocks, while a service ace from senior Lauren Evans ended the set.

Cincinnati returned to post a dominating performance in the fourth set as Stephanie Niemer posted seven of the Bearcats’ 14 kills to win the set.

The momentum stayed with Cincinnati in the fifth set as Niemer once again recorded seven kills to lead her team to victory. The six-time BIG EAST Player of the Week ended the match with 24 kills and 18 digs.

Armbruster and junior setter Kari Post led the Mountaineers today as they both recorded double-doubles. Armbruster posted a team-high 15 kills, while Post led the offense with 42 assists and 10 digs.

WVU will complete action tomorrow with a match against Louisville at 2 p.m. Live stats and video streaming will be available at www.MSNsportsNET.com .

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