Seton Hall University
Cincinnati
VB Falls in Five Sets at Cincinnati
10/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CINCINNATI, OHIO - The Seton Hall women's volleyball team suffered a heart-breaking five-set loss (20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 15-25, 13-15) at Cincinnati on Sunday despite Shelbey Manthorpe's (Merion Station, Pa.) third straight triple-double.
The loss evens the Pirates' BIG EAST record at 3-3 and drops them overall to 15-4 on the season.
Manthorpe has now recorded a triple-double in three straight matches and has six on the season. The sophomore registered team-highs of 14 kills, 32 assists and 23 digs in the loss.
Simona Sekulova (Auckland, New Zealand) and Stacey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) also notched double-figures with 13 and 12 kills respectively.
With the score tied at 10, Cincinnati scored five straight points to take a 15-10 lead in set one. The Pirates wouldn't draw closer than three points as the Bearcats took an early 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-20 set one victory.
Set two was close early with the teams totaling 13 ties until Seton Hall took control. With the score tied at 17 points, the Pirates would score five straight and finish the set on an 8-2 run for a 25-19 victory to tie the match at one set apiece.
Set three was a marathon and the Pirates took an early 9-4 lead on a kill from Stacey Manthorpe, but Cincinnati chipped away and tied the score at 11. With the score tied at 13, Seton Hall again took charge with a 7-2 run and led, 20-15. The Bearcats cut the Pirates' lead to just one at 22-21 on a kill by Becca Refenes. Cincinnati then staved off two set points with Seton Hall leading 24-22 to tie the set at 24 all. The Pirates however, would regroup and score the final two points, winning set three, 26-24.
Up two sets to one, the Pirates scored the first three points of the fourth set. With the score tied at 10, Cincinnati scored four straight points and would never relinquish the lead. Leading 16-13, the Bearcats finished the set on a 9-2 run and cruised to a 25-15 set four victory to tie the match at two sets apiece.
The fifth and deciding set was also a back-and-forth affair. The teams were tied six times early, but tied at eight, Cincinnati took the lead for good. Seton Hall scored twice with the Bearcats at match point to cut Cincinnati's lead to 14-13, but Refenes' 13th kill of the match secured the Pirates' demise.
Refenes was one of five Bearcats to reach double-figures in kills and notched a double-double.
The Pirates will return to action and Walsh Gym after four straight matches on the road when they host Marquette on Saturday, Oct. 13. Match time is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
