TicketsBearcats Back At It vs. Western Kentucky
UC out to extend four-match win streak
Contact: Shawn Sell
10/4/2004
Noel Olson dished out 50 assists in Saturday's win over DePaul. |
SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati volleyball team, in the midst of a four-match winning streak, will be back in action on Tuesday (Oct. 5) when they travel to Bowling Green, Ky. to battle Western Kentucky. UC enters the match with a 9-6 record after opening Conference USA play over the weekend with victories over Marquette and DePaul. Western Kentucky has won eight matches in a row to improve to 16-1 on the year. The Hilltoppers scored home wins over Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State over the weekend.
NOTES FROM MARQUETTE/DePAUL:
? With the win at Marquette, the Bearcats are now 7-3 in Conference USA openers all-time, including a 4-0 mark against the Golden Eagles.
? Julie DuPont inched closer to the top spot in school history in career kills with 37 in the two matches. She now trails leader Becky Tenkman by just 19 kills.
? Noel Olson cracked the top-10 in school history in career assists, now with 648. The sophomore ranks 10th after unseating Amy Mercer (630 assists) from the list.
? The Bearcats? middle blockers, Myanna Hellsten and Rachel Torblaa, each registered season-bests with six digs each at Marquette. The duo is averaging just 0.78 and 0.76 digs per game, respectively.
? UC?s 12 blocks at Marquette represented the team?s third-highest total of the season, trailing only Virginia (15.5) and Marshall (13.5).
? Olson?s 50 assists in three games vs. DePaul marked her fourth 50-plus assist match of the season. The total was just eight assists shy of the school record for three games.
ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY: Western Kentucky has raced to a 16-1 record this season and is in the midst of an eight-match winning streak. WKU?s only loss of the season came to then-No. 13 Stanford. The Lady Hilltoppers have also been victorious in 17 straight games, dating back to Sept. 18. Offensively, two players average over three kills per game for a squad that averages 16.04. Senior middle hitter Amanda Schiff is the leader at 3.39, while hitting .360. WKU?s other middle, Lyndsey Broerman, carries averages of 2.89 kills and 1.23 blocks per game, along with a team-high .427 hitting percentage. The Lady Hilltoppers? top digger is senior libero Ashly Miller, who averages 4.72 digs per game. Cincinnati holds a 7-3 edge in the all-time series, including wins in six of the last seven meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST WESTERN KENTUCKY: In a battle of two teams on lengthy winning streaks, Cincinnati posted a three-game sweep of Western Kentucky on Sept. 16, 2003. The win, which extended UC?s win streak to nine and snapped WKU?s string at nine, came in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. Julie DuPont had a double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs, while setter Laura Lauder handed out 47 assists for the Bearcats.
SIXES ARE WILD: The Bearcats had a rare occurrence in their win over Marquette on Oct. 1, as five members of the UC roster registered exactly six digs. Natalie Dossman, Julie DuPont, Myanna Hellsten, Noel Olson, Maria Pongonis and Rachel Torblaa all accomplished the feat, with the totals for Hellsten and Torblaa coming as season-bests for the two middle blockers.
OUT FOR REVENGE: Though UC has won six of its last seven match-ups with Western Kentucky, including a 3-0 win last season, the Bearcats will be out to avenge a loss in their last trip to Bowling Green, Ky. On Sept. 10, 2002, the Bearcats hit a solid .277 for the match, but WKU exploded for a .374 hitting effort en route to a 30-21, 30-27, 30-27 victory. The defeat is UC?s only in three trips to Bowling Green, dating back to 1989.
APPROACHING NO. 700: Now in its 33rd year as a varsity program at UC, the Bearcat volleyball program is closing in on 700 wins all-time. Cincinnati enters the week with an all-time record of 696-437-8 (.613) and with win number 700 will become only the second Conference USA school to reach the feat. Houston, with an all-time record of 762-417 (.646), is currently the only 700-club member in the league, with USF (683), Memphis (679) and Louisville (612) getting close.
SISTER, SISTER: Senior Leslie Newell has a unique opportunity during her final season as a collegiate player, as she and her Bearcat teammates will play contests against both of Newell?s younger sisters. UC defeated IUPUI with youngest sister Carol, a freshman, on Sept. 28 and is scheduled to play Conference USA rival Charlotte and sibling Lisa, a junior, at home on Nov. 5. Leslie Newell has bettered sister Lisa in all three of the sisters? head-to-head match-ups. UC has won each of the last two regular season match-ups between the schools, while also taking a C-USA Tournament quarterfinal win in 2002.
MATCHES MOVED: Due to a previously scheduled event in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, the Bearcats? matches on Oct. 8-9 have been moved to St. Ursula Academy. The school, located at 1339 E. McMillan St., is just minutes from UC?s campus. Admission for both of the Conference USA matches against rivals UAB and USF, is free to all fans. Fans travelling to St. Ursula should park in the parking lot directly behind the school?s soccer field.
HIGH RISER: Maria Pongonis has proven to be an integral part of UC?s success this season, as she ranks second on the team in kills (3.06) and third in digs (2.66). Against Washington State on Sept. 10, Pongonis recorded a new career-high with 23 kills, three more than her previous high from last season?s Marquette contest. She also recorded a new best in digs on Sept. 25 at Butler as she finished with 16. In 15 matches this season, Pongonis has led or tied for the team lead in kills four times, after accomplishing the feat just three times all of last season. Cincinnati?s success has also paralleled Pongonis? as during the team?s nine wins, she is averaging 3.07 kills and 2.93 digs per game and hitting .165, but the numbers dip to 3.05 kills and 2.32 digs and a .038 hitting percentage in UC?s six defeats.
TORBLAA CLIMBING THE CHARTS: While she has proven to be a solid and valuable offensive player during her career, senior Rachel Torblaa has made her name at the net with her strong blocking ability. With 11 block assists last weekend, Torblaa moved closer to third in school history with 369. Torblaa is now chasing Becky Tenkman (393) and Bontia Wise (431). Former UC assistant coach Stephanie Meinig is the program?s all-time leader with 518 block assists. Torblaa also ranks in UC annals in both blocks per game (sixth-1.28) and total blocks (seventh-421).
FINALLY ON THE CHARTS: By playing in their 150th career game in UC?s Sept. 18 match against Wisconsin, sophomores Myanna Hellsten and Noel Olson are now eligible for inclusion on the school?s career charts. Already, Hellsten is listed in two categories, ranking seventh in blocks per game (1.27) and tied for eighth in hitting percentage (.271). Olson ranks 10th in assists per game with 3.90, while also being shown 10th with 648 career assists.
OLSON NOW IN CHARGE: After starting the season in a two-setter alignment, sophomore Noel Olson has stepped to the forefront as the team?s primary setter. Twice this season, Olson has registered new career-highs in assists, including a best of 59 against Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 11. She also dished out 50 assists in just three games in UC?s win over DePaul on Oct. 2. Olson enters the week ranked 10th in Conference USA averaging 10.98 assists per game.
STRUGGLING TO HIT: During UC?s recent six-match losing streak, one of the team?s biggest problems was struggling to hit for a high percentage. During the stretch, UC hit just .144 as a team and was under .100 in the last three contests. No Bearcat player hit over .228 in the six-match stretch and the team?s top two offensive threats, Julie DuPont and Maria Pongonis, hit just .152 and .038 respectively. The sub-.100 hitting in the three contests marked the first time since Nov. 17, 2001 that UC hit under .100 in a match. That event was a Conference USA Tournament loss to DePaul that saw the Bearcats hit just .095. The Bearcats have rebounded from that slump to hit .258 in the last four matches, all wins.
REMEMBERING STEPH: The Bearcats will play their 2004 season in honor of assistant coach and former UC star player Stephanie (Meinig) Rosfeld, who passed away unexpectedly during the preseason. UC will honor Stephanie?s number 10, as no player will wear the number this season, while the entire team?s uniforms will bear the initials SAR and the number 10.
C-USA COACHES SPEAK: For the third consecutive campaign, the Bearcats have been selected second in the preseason poll of Conference USA coaches. UC, after sharing the Conference USA regular season championship with Louisville, was once again chosen one spot back of the Cardinals. In addition, senior Julie DuPont, the reigning C-USA Player of the Year, was tabbed the league?s preseason player of the year.
SUNAHARA REACHES THE TOP: Cincinnati head coach Reed Sunahara became the program?s all-time winningest coach in the Bearcats? Sept. 10 win over Washington State. Sunahara now has 106 wins in his Cincinnati career, five better than Mike Lingenfelter?s career total. Lingenfelter recorded 101 wins in his five-year career, which covered 1986-87 and 1993-95. Sunahara, now in his fifth year as the Bearcats? mentor, is 125-79 (.613) in his coaching career, with an even more impressive 106-39 (.731) mark at UC.
DUPONT WINS C-USA AWARD: For the sixth time in her career, senior Julie DuPont was honored on Sept. 7 as the Conference USA Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Saint Louis? Aida Antanaviciute. In earning MVP honors at the Bearcat Invitational, DuPont averaged 5.22 kills and 3.89 digs per game, while hitting .370. DuPont now shares the top spot with former USF players Paula Araujo and Michelle Collier and Saint Louis? Colleen Hunter in number of career Player of the Week awards.
NEAR MISSES: Throughout her career, Julie DuPont has shown her talent as an impact all-around player, but still has come up short of achieving the fourth triple-double in program history. DuPont?s most recent near miss came on Sept. 25 at Butler when she recorded 33 kills, 15 digs and seven blocks. Only Becky Tenkman (1996), Tobi Kirchenwitz (2000) and Bonita Wise (2000) have achieved triple doubles in school history.
BEARCATS IN C-USA: In the eight years of Conference USA play, the Bearcats have gone 108-26 for an .806 winning percentage, ranking second in both, trailing only Louisville. The Bearcats have now won 72 of their last 85 matches against C-USA opponents. Five of the 13 losses have been to Louisville, while four have come against USF. The marks exclude C-USA Tournament play.
DUPONT NEARING HISTORY: During her career, senior Julie DuPont has made her mark as one of the top players in program history and she is on the verge of reaching another career milestone. DuPont, who is tops in school history in kills per game with 4.68, ranks second on the kills chart with 1,824, after passing Cathy Guye in the Sept. 10 contest against Washington State. She now has only Becky Tenkman to catch on the UC charts. Tenkman recorded 1,843 kills from 1995-98, only 19 more than DuPont?s current total. DuPont also ranks in the UC annals in attempts (second), digs per game (seventh), digs (tie-fifth) and block assists (ninth).
DUPONT JUMPING THE C-USA CHARTS: In addition to her name being written throughout the UC record books, Julie DuPont is also starting to make waves in the Conference USA annals as well. DuPont is currently sixth in conference history in kills with 1,824. Next on the list for DuPont to catch is former UC star and school record holder Becky Tenkman who closed her career with 1,843 kills. Former USF star Michelle Collier, the only player in C-USA history to be named All-American besides DuPont, is the all-time record holder with 2,729.
BEARCATS WITH THE ACE: Over the past few seasons, the Bearcats have not been considered one of Conference USA?s top serving teams. Last season, they ranked eighth in the league in aces, but are up to seventh in the latest C-USA rankings. Much of the damage was done in the Sept. 10 match against Washington State, as the Bearcats established a school record for a four-game match with 17 aces, one better than a 1993 effort against Evansville. Senior Rachel Torblaa led the charge against the Cougars, with a career-high six aces. Maria Pongonis is the current leader in aces with 22, just four better than Torblaa?s season total.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bearcats? win over IUPUI on Sept. 28 allowed UC to stretch its consecutive home match winning streak, as they have now won 19 in a row, dating back to 2002. The new streak, which became a record in the Sept. 7 win over Miami (Ohio), is two better than the previous best of 17 straight home wins, established from a Sept. 7, 1999 win over Dayton to an Oct. 18, 2000 defeat to Louisville. Since the opening of Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, the Bearcats have been nothing short of dominant on their home floor. In the 14 years the building has been in existence, the Bearcats have posted a 119-50 (.704) record at home, with exactly half of those losses coming in a three-year span from 1991-93.
DUPONT JOINS ELITE CLUB: As she has so many times during her career, Julie DuPont made history in the Sept. 4 match against Kent State. Against the Golden Flashes, DuPont became just the fifth UC player ever with 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. DuPont, with 1,824 kills and 1,135 digs, joins an exclusive club that includes Sonja Jackson (1,443 kills; 1,135 digs), Dani Peterson (1,040 kills; 1,132 digs), Becky Tenkman (1,843 kills; 1,303 digs) and Trish Ladusaw (1,465 kills; 2,074 digs).
TOURNAMENT HONORS: For the second consecutive season, UC dominated the Bearcat Invitational Sept. 3-4, winning all three matches and posting a perfect 9-0 games record. As she did in 2003, Julie DuPont garnered tournament MVP honors and was joined on the all-tournament squad by a pair of her teammates. Rachel Torblaa repeated as a member of the team and was joined by first time honoree Myanna Hellsten.
TORBLAA NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT: At the Furama Hotel Invitational hosted by Loyola Marymount University, Rachel Torblaa was the Bearcats? sole representative on the all-tournament team. Torblaa earned the honor after averaging 3.00 kills and 1.00 blocks per game and hitting .379 for the tournament. The all-tournament honor was the second of the season for Torblaa and fourth of her career.
DUPONT FEATURED: Senior Julie DuPont?s academic and athletic excellence are chronicled in the latest edition of Volleyball Magazine. A one-page story, with full color photos appears in the October 2004 issue of the magazine. The periodical?s college preview also lists DuPont as one of the top 20 players in the country to watch this season.
MORE OUTSTANDING FRESHMEN: Head Coach Reed Sunahara and his staff have once again assembled another outstanding freshmen class that appears poised to continue the tradition of outstanding freshmen at UC. During the nine years of Conference USA Volleyball, the Bearcats have featured five freshman or co-freshman of the year in the league. Myanna Hellsten continued the run last year, capturing league and region freshman of the year honors, giving UC four recipients of the C-USA award in the last five years. This year?s crop includes promising newcomers Jenny Custer, Natalie Dossman, Erin Maldo, Hannah May and Jessie Nevitt. This season, both Custer and Dossman have moved into key roles in the Bearcat line-up. Custer has played both hitter and setter, averaging 0.58 kills, 1.34 digs and 2.04 assists per game. She also ranks fourth on the team with 16 service aces. Dossman has registered double digit digs in 11 matches this season as the starting libero, averaging 3.69 digs per game including a career-high 18 against Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 11. Maldo has seen limited action, averaging 0.75 kills and 0.25 digs per game, while May made her collegiate debut in game three of the Sept. 28 win over IUPUI.
HELLSTEN EARNS TOURNAMENT NOD: For the second time this season, Myanna Hellsten earned an all-tournament team award, when she was named to the squad at the InnTowner Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin. For the tournament, Hellsten averaged 2.17 kills and 1.17 blocks per game. Hellsten was also honored following the Vernon Manor Bearcat Invitational.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats return home to open a three-match homestand this weekend when they battle UAB and USF. The matches to be played on Oct. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m., will be held at St. Ursula Academy, just minutes from UC?s campus. Following the two C-USA contests, the Bearcats will return to the friendly confines of Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center for a Tuesday, Oct. 12 match with Morehead State.