No. 22 TCU Takes Down Cincinnati 3-1 to Close Out Regular Season

Friday, November 29

Cincinnati, Ohio

1 PM

TCU

21-7,13-5Big 12

Cincinnati

14-15,5-13Big 12

TCU

Cincinnati

No. 22 TCU Takes Down Cincinnati 3-1 to Close Out Regular Season

11/29/2024 10:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Parra records 13th 20-kill match this season

CINCINNATI – Melanie Parra filled up the stat sheet, totaling 32 points as No. 22 TCU volleyball wrapped up its regular season with a 3-1 victory over Cincinnati on Friday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.

The Horned Frogs (21-7 overall) grabbed their 13^th win in Big 12 play this season, their most since joining the league, and tied for the most regardless of conference (13 in the Mountain West in 2009). Parra led the way with another captivating performance. The senior finished with 24 kills, 13 digs and six aces to mark her 13^th 20-kill match and her 14^th double-double of the year. Jalyn Gibson nearly posted a triple-double, tallying 13 kills, 16 digs and a career-high nine blocks. Her teammate, Sarah Sylvester, was also unstoppable at the net. The junior picked up a season-high 11 blocks to help hold the Bearcats to under .200 hitting.

Out of the gate, TCU and Cincinnati battled back and forth in a thrilling opening set that featured 15 ties and five lead changes. Knotted up through the first 15 points, a kill by Parra and an ace from Hendrix highlighted a 5-1 run to make it 20-16. Out of a timeout, the Bearcats rattled off six straight points to take a 23-21 lead and force the Frogs to regroup. Gibson snapped the 6-0 run with a block to side out, but Cincinnati capitalized on an error to inch closer to victory. Down two, TCU kept its composure and fended off back-to-back set points thanks to a kill and ace by Parra. Going into extra points, a big swing from Hendrix and an ace by Young helped the Frogs comeback to win the first, 28-26.

Riding high from the opening set, TCU carried the momentum into set two. The Frogs jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead and never looked back. Everyone was working for TCU as Parra picked up six kills, and Sylvester racked up five blocks in the frame. Off the bench, Kelley provided a jolt of energy, contributing three quick kills on three swings to push the lead to seven at 13-6. The Frogs' seven-point lead held the rest of the way as Gibson finished the Bearcats off with a kill to mark a 25-18 victory.

The Bearcats didn't go away without a fight, winning a gritty third set. With both teams tied at 20, Cincinnati was able to swing momentum following an unsuccessful challenge and take advantage of four miscues to force a fourth set.

After dropping set three, TCU responded in the fourth to close out the match. Cincinnati took an early 9-4 lead with a 5-1 scoring run, but the Frogs began to chip away at the deficit and tie things back up at 12 with four straight points, featuring Sylvester's 10^th block and Parra's 20^th kill of the afternoon. Battling late, the Bearcats had one final push, a 5-0 run to take a 20-18 lead, but it wouldn't hold against a lethal Horned Frog attack. Consecutive kills from Gibson and Alexis Roberson tied the score at 20 before Parra took over, scoring four of the final five points, including three aces, to end the match on a 7-0 run.

Ending the regular season with 21 wins, No. 22 TCU now awaits its postseason fate. The Horned Frogs will hear their names called for the third straight season on Sunday, Dec. 1, when the field of 64 is announced for the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT.

For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on X at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.