By Teagan Revelle, Newswire Intern
Xavier University’s women’s volleyball team lost a close home game 3-1 against crosstown rival University of Cincinnati (UC) on Friday night.
Set one started off with Xavier’s front row literally killing it. Sophomore Ava Tilden got the first kill for the Musketeers, and seven more followed.
Three hitters celebrate after winning a point for Xavier.
By the first timeout, Xavier was down 15-9; a lead Cincinnati took that Xavier would not come back from in the first set.
During the second set, Xavier tied up the game 7-7 because of Cincinnati mistakes and Xavier’s phenomenal middle hitters.
Xavier came back strong after halftime. As Xavier ramped up the pressure, UC started hitting and serving more out of bounds before calling their first timeout of the game.
This timeout was not enough to pull UC out of the hole they dug for themselves, though.
Xavier won their first set of the game with a close score of 23-25, effectively fending off UC for at least one more set.
Despite losing the first set, and eventually the second, Xavier did not lose hope.
Xavier continued their streak, scoring the first point in the fourth set, and continuing to battle for 14 more points. Their momentum began to fade as the Bearcats fixed their previous mistakes and focused on the accuracy of their hits and serves, finding their stride. Xavier called a timeout when the score was 20-14, leaving Xavier six points behind.
Junior middle blocker Margo Kemp spikes the ball over the Bearcats to win a point for Xavier.
Coming back from their timeout, Xavier and the UC fought over the next eight points before the set ended with a final score of 25-17 in favor of UC.
Hitters like Tilden, junior Charlotte Moriarty and senior Quinci Thomas really held it down in the front row. Their sophomore setter Jenna Barhorst was continuously able to work well with whatever she was given.
Xavier’s team spirit, on and off the court, is notably admirable.
Even well before the game started, the energy was prevalent, with Xavier volleyball out and about around campus on a golf cart, getting fellow students excited for the game Friday evening.
This infectious energy was also visible on the court as players continually supported each other and cheered each other on.
Xavier volleyball reached a new record attendance of 2,835 people as fans cheered on the team against their Crosstown rivals. Xavier’s cheerleaders were on the sidelines, as well as the Xavier Pep Band. The Xavier men’s swim team appeared in their swim attire to cheer on their fellow Musketeers.