Sept. 11, 2010
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Auburn volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 25-19) match to Cincinnati to conclude competition at the C of C Classic on the campus of College of Charleston Saturday night. The Tigers are now 9-3 at the conclusion of the weekend, while the Bearcats are 8-3 on the season.
"It was a very good tournament and winning the whole thing is a great achievement for our team," head coach Wade Benson said. "Having back-to-back matches today was tough, but Cincinnati played very well and earned the win. We saw things that we need to work on which will be beneficial for the start of SEC competition next weekend."
Senior Morgan Johns lead the Tigers with 15 kills, while sophomore Katherine Culwell recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and career-best 18 digs. Senior libero Liz Crouch had 18 digs on the night, while freshman Camila Jersonsky had three blocks.
Crouch, Johns and Jersonsky were named to the all-tournament team, while Crouch was named the Most Valuable Player of the weekend.
Cincinnati's Stephanie Niemer finished with 30 kills and 13 digs for the Bearcats, while Jordanne Scott added 12 kills. Libero Emily MacIntyre had 17 digs and setter Annie Fesl tallied 50 assists.
A pair of Bearcat attack errors and two kills by Johns led to a 5-1 lead for Auburn to start the first set. A Bullock kill and a service ace by Mellor put the Tigers up 11-6, but Cincinnati fought late to take its first lead at 18-17. A three-point Auburn rally, highlighted by two service aces by Mellor, gave the Tigers the 20-18 advantage and Auburn battled to take the 25-22 win.
Cincinnati opened the second set on a 4-2 run, but a pair of Auburn kills and Bearcat attack errors gave the Tigers their first lead at 6-4. Cincinnati, however, utilized a four-point rally to go up 14-13.The Bearcats continued to push and finished the set with a 25-18 win.
The two squads fought in the first part of the third set and, with the score locked at six, a pair of kills by Johns led to a four-point Tiger run to give Auburn a 10-6 advantage. The Bearcats put up a major run of their own and regained the lead at 13-11. Auburn kept competition close, but a final Cincinnati rally led to a 25-21 Bearcat win.
Auburn and Cincinnati battled through the early goings of the fourth and final set until, tied at five apiece, the Bearcats used a 5-1 rally to go up 9-6. The Tigers came within two points at 11-9 and then within three points at 16-13, but couldn't break through as the Bearcats finished the match with a 25-19 victory.
The Tigers begin Southeastern Conference competition on the road as Auburn travels to SEC West foes LSU and Arkansas next weekend. Auburn takes on the 21st-ranked and defending SEC champion LSU Friday, Sept. 17, in Baton Rouge in a 7 p.m. match. The Tigers then travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for a 1:30 p.m. match against the Razorbacks on Sunday, Sept. 19.