CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Wichita State picked up their first conference road win of the 2022 slate, downing Cincinnati 25-21, 26-28, 25-20, 25-21 on Friday night at Fifth Third Arena.
The Shockers did their damage in a variety of ways, racking up a season-high 12 service aces and 16 team blocks to go along with 51 kills on a .208 hitting percentage.
Brylee Kelly poured in a match-high 16 kills and produced the match-winning block in the fourth set.
The balanced offensive attack was on display in the first set, with five different Shockers recording multiple kills. At the service line, Wichita State notched six aces in the set, their most in a single frame this season. The Shockers were clinging to a slim 16-15 lead late in the set, but gradually pulled away thanks to kills from Natalie Foster, Morgan Weber and Kayce Litzau. Cincinnati made one last gasp to inch within 23-21, but another Foster kill and an ace from Kate Galligan sealed the set for WSU.
Wichita State (10-8, 5-2) faced an 18-13 deficit in the second set, but fought all the way back to force extra points. The Shockers had a set point opportunity at 25-24 following a Bearcats attack error, but Cincinnati responded to take the next two points and eventually the set on a Shocker hitting miscue.
In the critical third set, the Shockers put together their best offensive showing of the night. WSU hit .407 with 13 kills on 27 swings, committing just two attack errors. Cincinnati hung around, trailing just 18-17 late in the set, but a Morgan Weber kill and Annalie Heliste ace restored a three-point lead that WSU would not relinquish. Morgan Stout provided a key kill late to reach set point, and Litzau tapped in a tight pass to secure a 2-1 lead for Wichita State.
Cincinnati claimed a quick 8-4 edge in the fourth set, a deficit that the Shockers erased via a 5-1 run. After the Bearcats briefly retook the lead 10-9, WSU put together a massive 6-0 run to take the lead for good. Twice the Bearcats rallied to tie the set, but could never overtake Wichita State down the stretch. Deadlocked at 21-all, the combination of Kelly and Foster provided kills before a Lily Liekweg ace set the stage for Kelly's match-winning block.
Liekweg and Weber each had 20 digs to stifle the Cincinnati attack, aided by eight solo blocks from six different Shockers. Litzau handed out 35 assists and added six kills, while Weber finished just one kill shy of a double-double with nine terminations. Foster powered home 13 kills and a team-leading six blocks.
The Shockers return to action next Friday at Houston. First serve from the Fertitta Center is scheduled for 7:00 pm.