TicketsTorblaa, Freshmen Shine In Alumni Match
Current Bearcats post 3-0 sweep
Contact: Shawn Sell
8/28/2004
Senior Rachel Torblaa |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Rachel Torblaa registered a match-high 13 kills and a trio of freshman turned in outstanding performances during the University of Cincinnati Volleyball Alumni Game on Saturday night.
The 2004 Bearcats won all three games against a handful of former UC players in the squad?s first public appearance of the season. Torblaa led all players in kills with her 13, while Julie DuPont, the first All-American in program history last season, added nine.
UC also got impressive outings by freshman Jenny Custer, Natalie Dossman and Erin Maldo. Custer saw time as both a hitter and a setter, finishing with nine kills and 14 assists. Dossman played as the first team libero and finished the exhibition contest with a team-best 15 digs. Maldo was also solid picking up five kills in limited playing time.
?I thought our defense and passing were both pretty good tonight,? said Bearcat head coach Reed Sunahara. ?When we pass well we will be fine, but we get in trouble when our passing starts to break down. I think we are starting to click a little bit and we will keep working and be ready for the start of the season on Friday.?
The Alumni squad jumped to the lead in each of the first two games, before ultimately falling 30-16 and 30-23. Game three also went to UC by a 30-15 count.
The team of former Bearcats was interestingly paced offensively by former two-time Conference USA Defensive Specialist of the Year Katie Graham. Graham, who played at UC from 1996-99, recorded a team-best 11 kills, along with five digs. Trish Ladusaw, who ended her career with the second-most digs in NCAA history, showed she still possesses the same defensive prowess, ending with a match-high 17 digs.
The greatest setter in school history, Laura Lauder, led all players with 22 assists for the Alumni. Her understudy last season, Noel Olson, paced the Bearcats with 20 assists, splitting time with Custer and Hannah May.
The Bearcats now have just under a week to prepare for the opening tournament of the 2004 season, next weekend?s Bearcat Invitational. UC will open on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Bradley. The remainder of the field for the event will feature Maryland-Baltimore County and Kent State.