Cincinnati vs. Penn State Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In an attempt at its second straight upset during the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, Cincinnati came within one frame of reaching the tournament’s final eight teams on Friday night. No. 11 Penn State (27-5) rallied to stop the Bearcats in five sets in Stanford, California, erasing a two sets to one deficit in a 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12, 15-11 victory.
A historic 2019 campaign for Cincinnati (27-7) saw the Bearcats earn the East Division title in the American Athletic Conference, prior to becoming the first team from The American to ever reach the third round of the NCAA tournament. Cincinnati earned its spot in the final 16 by way of a five-set upset at No. 6 Pittsburgh last weekend.
Unanimous American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Jordan Thompson closed her Cincinnati career with a match-high 30 digs. Fellow all-conference first-teamer Maria Mallon added 19 kills and 15 digs for the Bearcats, and second-team all-conference choice Armania Heckenmueller registered 52 assists and seven digs in the setback.
American Athletic Conference Teams in the 2019 NCAA Volleyball Championship
Thursday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m. (ET)
UCF 3, Florida State 2 (25-19, 20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-8) – Gainesville, Florida
Friday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. (ET)
Cincinnati 3, VCU 1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23) – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. (ET)
No. 10 Florida 3, UCF 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-17) – Gainesville, Florida
Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. (ET)
Cincinnati 3, No. 6 Pittsburgh 2 (24-26, 25-21, 16-25, 25-21, 15-13) – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Friday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. (ET)
No. 11 Penn State 3, Cincinnati 2 (20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12, 15-11) – Stanford, California