Szlanfucht led all players with 13, and should break into the all-time top 10 later this season. |
|
|
Szlanfucht Reaches 1,000 Kill Milestone
Nov. 5, 2004
Cincinnati - The Charlotte 49ers fell to Conference USA rival Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena on Friday night, by scores of 30-27, 30-20 and 30-27. Niner junior Abbey Szlanfucht led all players with 13 kills, giving her 1,001 in her third season at Charlotte and placing her just outside the school's all-time top ten.
Game one was tight throughout, and was marked by a series of runs by each side. With an 11-10 advantage, the Bearcats went on a 6-2 rally to extend the lead to 17-12. Charlotte (18-11, C-USA 4-6) would score the next four points to make the score 17-16, but the effort was offset by a four-point spurt by Cincinnati (19-8, C-USA 9-2).
The Niners would again score four straight, prompting a Bearcat time out with a 21-20 lead. Then, Cincinnati scored five straight points coming out of the huddle to force a Charlotte time out at 26-21. A service ace by Lisa Newell led to the second Bearcat time out at 28-26, but the teams traded points until Cincinnati came away with a 30-27 win. The Niners hit .417 in game one, recording 19 kills against just four errors.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 6-0 lead in game two, prompting a Charlotte time out. The Bearcats would score three more points before the Niners finally got on the board with a kill from Szlanfucht. Cincinnati extended the lead back to nine at 11-2, and never held less than a six-point advantage the rest of the game. They led by as much as 12, ouhitting the Niners .522 to .049 in a 30-20 win.
With the score tied 11-11 in game three, Charlotte took control and led by as much as four, maintaining their lead until Cincinnati tied the score at 21 apiece. Cincinnati took a 26-23 lead, but Charlotte fought back behind two Cincinnati errors and a Lisa Newell attack to force a Bearcat time out at 27-26. An attack error by Julie DuPont tied the score, but Cincinnati closed out the match on a DuPont kill followed by a block and a Charlotte attack error.
|
|
 |
Szlanfucht reached her personal milestone in game three, putting down a pass from senior Molly McDonald to make the score 10-9 Cincinnati. She recorded 13 kills to lead all players, while Newell had 12 kills in just 15 attempts. Newelll committed just one error, for a season-high .733 hitting percentage.
McDonald averaged 13 assists per game, recording 39 to go along with two total blocks. Libero Holly Kreyling led all players with nine digs.
For the Bearcats, DuPont and Maria Pongonis had 10 kills each.
The Niners continue their weekend roadtrip with a match on Saturday night against Conference USA leader Louisville. The Cardinals were tied for 22nd in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll.
