It was another busy week across Cincinnati athletics, with the Bearcats making headlines in several different sports.
From a dramatic comeback in the Victory Bell rivalry to strong performances on the volleyball court and golf course, Cincinnati had plenty to celebrate throughout the week. The Bearcats also added a pair of baseball commitments while the men’s basketball program received its Big 12 schedule.
Here’s a look back at everything that happened around Cincinnati athletics from Sept. 14-20.
Football: Bearcats Complete Victory Bell Comeback
Cincinnati delivered one of the most memorable comebacks in the recent history of the Battle for the Victory Bell on Saturday. You can read my full game recap below!
Volleyball: Cincinnati Takes Down Ball State and Xavier
The Cincinnati volleyball team put together an impressive week, picking up victories over Ball State and Xavier.
The Cincinnati volleyball team put together an impressive week, picking up victories over Ball State and Xavier.
The Bearcats opened the week with a dominant straight-set sweep of previously unbeaten Ball State at Fifth Third Arena.
Sydney Nolan led Cincinnati with 14 kills while hitting .375, while Nina Scrucca turned in one of the most efficient performances of her career. Scrucca finished with a career-best 13 kills while hitting .591.
Kate Lijic continued to run the Cincinnati offense effectively, recording 41 assists, while Viktoria Ninova anchored the defense with 18 digs.
Cincinnati controlled the match from the beginning, cruising through the opening set before eventually finishing off Ball State in three sets.
The third set provided the most drama. The two teams battled deep into extra points before Cincinnati finally pulled away, winning 32-30 to complete the sweep.
The Bearcats then carried that momentum into the Queen City Classic, defeating Xavier 3-1 at the Cintas Center.
Nolan once again led the Cincinnati attack, recording 21 kills while hitting .400. Scrucca was nearly unstoppable, setting another career high with 17 kills while hitting an incredible .652.
Lijic added another double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs, while Andrea Simovski contributed 12 kills and 9 digs.
After Cincinnati took the first two sets, Xavier managed to extend the match by taking the third set 25-23. The Bearcats responded immediately, however, controlling the fourth set and closing out a 25-17 victory.
Cincinnati improved to 7-3 on the season and gave the Bearcats the Queen City Classic title.
Cincinnati will now turn its attention toward Big 12 play, with a pair of ranked opponents coming to Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats will host No. 13 TCU on Sept. 25 before welcoming No. 12 Arizona State on Sept. 27.
Men’s Golf: Bearcats Finish Third at Bearcat Invitational
The Cincinnati men’s golf team bounced back in impressive fashion at the Bearcat Invitational.
After opening the tournament with a difficult 4-over 288, the Bearcats responded with rounds of 6-under 278 and 8-under 276 to finish third at 10-under par.
Liberty won the tournament at 15-under, followed by TCU at 12-under, with Cincinnati finishing third.
Leo Wessel led the way individually, earning his fourth career top-10 finish. The junior carded a bogey-free 1-under 70 in the final round and finished tied for eighth at 4-under.
Brayden Miller also finished strong, posting a 1-under 70 to earn his first career top-25 finish. The sophomore finished tied for 21st at even par.
Freshman Aidan Wilson continued to show promise, shooting a 3-under 68 in the final round. His performance helped him finish tied for 28th.
Eli Wessel and Timmy Hollenbeck also finished their tournaments with under-par rounds.
As a team, Cincinnati was particularly strong on par-4 holes, ranking second in the field in par-4 scoring. The Bearcats also finished with the third-fewest bogeys among the 17 teams competing.
Men’s Golf: Cincinnati Enters Final Round in Fourth at Gopher Invitational
The Bearcats carried their momentum into the Gopher Invitational.
Through 36 holes, Cincinnati sat tied for fourth at 8-over par heading into Monday’s final round.
The Bearcats opened with a 5-over 289 before improving to a 3-over 287 in the afternoon session.
Miller provided one of the biggest individual highlights of the day. After opening with a 1-over 72, Miller fired a season-low 3-under 68 in the second round, climbing 11 spots on the leaderboard and moving into a tie for fourth.
Eli Wessel and Leo Wessel both entered the final round tied for 19th, while Wilson sat tied for 27th.
Cincinnati’s strongest area was its play on par-5 holes, where the Bearcats led the tournament at 7-under. They also entered the final round tied for the best par-4 scoring mark in the field.
The Bearcats will look to finish the tournament strong in Monday’s final round.
Women’s Soccer: Bearcats Battle Kansas to a Draw
Cincinnati women’s soccer battled Kansas to a 1-1 draw Friday night at Gettler Stadium.
The Jayhawks controlled much of the first half, outshooting Cincinnati 9-1, but neither team was able to break through before halftime.
Kansas eventually opened the scoring in the second half after a blocked penalty kick fell to Emma Frey, who converted the rebound.
Cincinnati responded just 16 minutes later.
A free kick found Tiana Campbell, who delivered a long-range strike into the back of the net to level the match.
Neither team could find a winning goal from there, leaving the Bearcats with a 1-1 draw and a 2-2-4 record on the season.
The match also featured a special moment away from the field, as the Sidloski family presented its memorial scholarship to Carly Oubs for embodying the qualities associated with “Playing for 3.”
Cincinnati now begins a three-match road trip, starting with a matchup against Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Baseball: Cincinnati Adds Two Commitments
The Cincinnati baseball program added a pair of commitments during the week as it continues building toward the future.
The Bearcats picked up commitments from two members of the 2028 class.
On September 17, 2028 infielder Caleb Williams announced his commitment to Cincinnati.
The following day, Cincinnati added another commitment when 2028 shortstop Carter Gilley pledged to the Bearcats.
Adding two commitments in consecutive days gives Cincinnati another boost on the recruiting trail and adds to the foundation of the program’s future roster.
Men’s Basketball: Big 12 Schedule Announced
The Cincinnati men’s basketball program also received an important piece of its upcoming season this week with the release of its Big 12 schedule.
With conference play officially taking shape, Bearcats fans now have a clearer picture of what awaits Jerrod Calhoun and Cincinnati as the program enters a new chapter.
The conference schedule will provide plenty of marquee opportunities throughout the season, and the full slate gives fans plenty to look forward to as the season approaches.
Looking Ahead
It was another eventful week across Cincinnati athletics, highlighted by a historic Victory Bell comeback and strong performances from several programs.
Football delivered the week’s biggest moment by overcoming a 21-point halftime deficit against Miami (OH), while volleyball continued building momentum with victories over Ball State and Xavier.
Meanwhile, men’s golf showed resilience after a difficult opening round, women’s soccer continued battling through a competitive schedule, and baseball added two pieces to its future recruiting class.
With Big 12 play approaching for volleyball and the men’s basketball schedule now officially released, there is plenty more ahead for Cincinnati athletics.
Stay tuned for another edition of Across The Cincinnati Bearcats next week.
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