Appreciating Jordan Thompson’s Dominance

Cincinnati Bearcats women’s volleyball team is the American Athletic Conference regular season champions after a historic 15-1 regular season. They play in Orlando this weekend in the conference tournament.

The Bearcats are led by Jordan Thompson, who earlier this week was named AAC Player of the Year (unanimously). It’s her third time winning the award as Thompson also won it in 2018 and 2016.

Among her many accomplishments in 2019, Thompson recorded 50 kills in a single match, which is the most in a match since 1999. She also reached the 2,500 kills mark for her career, something only 9 D1 players total have ever done and she is the first to do so since 2004.

Here is a snapshot of Thompson’s final stats for the 2019 regular season

• First in total kills (651) and kills per set (6.32). She owns the all-time Cincinnati kills record.
• First in total points (716) and points per set (6.95).
• Second in attacks per set (13.41) and third in total attacks (1,381).
• Thompson is second in the country in attacks per set (13.44).

In addition to Thompson’s dominance, she was supported by three All-AAC Honorees.

Armania Heckenmueller led the country in assists per set (12.09) and finished fifth in total assists (1,245).

Adria Oliver finished second in AAC play in hitting percentage.

Maria Mallon finished third in AAC play in aces per set, 4th in kills per set, and 5th in points per set.

Thompson will be tasked with getting the Bearcats further in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Cincinnati won their first round match last year, before losing in the second round and lost in the first round in 2016. Thompson is going to go down as the best volleyball player ever to play at UC. She has cemented her place in history among the NCAA volleyball greats. The NCAA Tournament will certainly not define her legacy, but a deep tournament run for the Bearcats could only enhance it.