PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati became the third American Athletic Conference volleyball team in as many years to advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 win over Illinois State on Friday. The Bearcats (26-7, 15-3) will face No. 14 seed Marquette on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to regionals which will be hosted at campus sites December 7-8. The win marked the Bearcats’ fifth in program history in NCAA Tournament play. Cincinnati hit over .320 in each set, recording a dominant .547 clip at the net.
Tulane (27-8, 13-5) continued its postseason run in New Orleans, winning its regional with a 3-1 victory over Cal Baptist at home to become the first American Athletic Conference team to advance to the Third Round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Green Wave improves to 16-2 at home this year and will face Valparaiso in New Orleans on Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m. ET. Wichita State (14-18, 8-10) also competed in a NIVC second-round match, falling to host North Texas in four sets to conclude its 2018 season.
Friday, November 30, Results:
Cincinnati 3, Illinois State 0 | NCAA Tournament First Round
The Bearcats’ .547 hitting percentage was the highest by an American team at the national championship, as Cincinnati became the third conference program to win in straight sets at the NCAA Tournament. Two-time unanimous American Player of the Year Jordan Thompson, who leads the nation in kills and points, guided the Bearcats with 20 kills on a .320 hitting percentage. Outside hitter Erica Kostelac added 14 kills and a .650 hitting percentage, while freshman Maria Mallon chipped in with 12 kills on a .476 clip. Conference setter of the Year Jade Tingelhoff paced the offense with 47 assists, five kills and a blistering .714 hitting percentage. The Bearcats set a pair of American single-season records, ending the match with 1,718 assists and 1,826 kills on the year. Cincinnati brings a five-match winning streak into Saturday’s second-round matchup.
Tulane 3, Cal Baptist 1 | NIVC Second Round
Tulane hit .301 on the way to defending its home court for a second-straight night, as four players reached double-digit kills. Freshman outside hitter Makala Heidelberg recorded a double-double of 13 kills and 17 digs with a .480 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Dayna Kern hit .423 with 14 kills. The Green Wave, which leads The American in opponent hitting percentage (.147), held Cal Baptist to hitting under .200 in the win. Picked to finish 10th in The American’s 2018 preseason coaches’ poll, Tulane clinched third place in the conference’s standings this season.
North Texas 3, Wichita State 1 | NIVC Second Round
After falling to North Texas in the two teams’ season finale on Saturday, November 24, Wichita State rallied in the fourth set, but its postseason run came to an end in a 3-1 loss to the Mean Green. Redshirt freshman Megan Taflinger tallied 17 kills and hit .275 to lead Wichita State, while Tabitha Brown posted a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs. The at-large NIVC bid marked Wichita State’s fourth-straight postseason appearance. Sophomore libero Giorgia Civita leads The American with her career 5.54 digs per set at the conclusion of the Shockers’ season.
RESULTS/UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 29
Wichita State 3, Central Arkansas 2 | NIVC
Florida Gulf Coast 3, No. 21 UCF 2 | NCAA Tournament
North Texas 3, Tulsa 1 | NIVC
Georgia Tech 3, USF 2 | NIVC
Tulane 3, Arkansas State 2 | NIVC
Friday, November 30
Cincinnati 3, Illinois State 0 | NCAA Tournament First Round
North Texas 3, Wichita State 1 | NIVC Second Round
Tulane 3, Cal Baptist 1 | NIVC Second Round
Saturday, December 1
Cincinnati at No. 14 seed Marquette – NCAA Tournament Second Round
All times Eastern and subject to change