TicketsVolleyball Seeks Another Home Win Tuesday
Bearcats welcome Morehead State to Fifth Third Arena
Contact: Shawn Sell
10/11/2004
Noel Olson ranks seventh in Conference USA this week in assists. |
SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati volleyball team will be out to stretch its home winning streak to 22 when they host Morehead State on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. The Bearcats enter the contest with a 12-6 record and on a seven-match winning streak, after sweeping conference USA rivals UAB and USF over the weekend. Morehead State has won each of its last two contests and five of its last seven to up its record to 6-11 on the year.
NOTES FROM UAB/USF:
? With a sweep of USF, the Bearcats snapped a three-match losing streak to the Bulls that extended back to the 2001 season.
? Julie DuPont became the school?s career kills leader, passing Becky Tenkman?s mark of 1,843 and ending the weekend with 1,876. She also passed both Tenkman and Sonja Percan of Louisville to jump from sixth to fourth in Conference USA history.
? DuPont became the school?s attack attempt leader, again passing Tenkman?s mark and finishing the weekend with 4,652. She also moved into sole possession of fourth place on the school?s career digs chart and into a tie for 10th in career total blocks.
? UC picked up the 699th win in program history, moving just one win short of the 700 mark. With one more victory, the Bearcats will join Houston as the only C-USA schools with 700 wins.
? DuPont extended her streak with at least 10 kills to 27 consecutive matches. Her run is tied for the fourth longest in the nation.
? The Bearcats hit a season-high .420 against USF, with setter Noel Olson handing out 51 assists, her highest three-game assist total of the season.
ABOUT MOREHEAD STATE: The Eagles have won two in a row and five of seven to improve to 6-11 on the year. MSU opened the weekend with a four-game win over Ohio Valley League rival Samford, before surviving a five-game marathon against former Bearcat Suzi Terrell and her Jacksonville State teammates. Senior Jennifer Kennedy, a native of nearby Alexandria, Ky., paces Morehead State with team-highs of 4.53 kills and 3.66 digs per game. Diana Zipp adds 3.16 kills and a team-best 0.71 blocks per game for the Eagles. In addition to Kennedy, the Eagles? roster also includes local products Kelsey Cronin (Fairfield HS) and Cassie Garland (Lakota East HS). UC has won 11 of the 16 meetings between the schools, including the last match-up, a 1998 battle at MSU.
DUPONT TOPS KILLS CHART: During her career, senior Julie DuPont has made her mark as one of the top players in program history. Now, she can claim yet another milestone in her long list of accomplishments. During game one of UC?s win over UAB on Oct. 8, DuPont became the program?s career leader in kills, passing Becky Tenkman?s mark of 1,843 established from 1995-98. DuPont, who is also tops in school annals in kills per game (4.69), has 1,876 kills during her career. She also ranks in the UC annals in attempts (first), digs (fourth), digs per game (seventh), block assists (ninth) and total blocks (T-10th). DuPont is also on the verge of cracking the top-10 in service aces and games played.
OFFENSIVE OUTBREAK: For the first time this season, UC put five players in double figure kills against Western Kentucky on Oct. 5. In addition to Julie DuPont?s team-high 14 kills, Leslie Newell (12), Rachel Torblaa (12), Myanna Hellsten (11) and Maria Pongonis (11) all reached double figures. The Bearcats pulled the trick three times in 2003, with the last coming vs. Houston on Nov. 7. The squad nearly pulled the feat again vs. USF on Oct. 9 as DuPont (16), Torblaa (14) and Pongonis (10) all reached double figures and Newell (nine) and Hellsten (eight) came up just short.
BALANCE, BALANCE: Lost in the fact that the Bearcats had five players in double figure kills in the Oct. 5 win over Western Kentucky was the great balance with which the team accumulated attempts. With setter Noel Olson at the controls, four UC players had between 22 and 28 attempts. Though Julie DuPont had a team-high 52 attempts, the rest of the team was close as Myanna Hellsten (28), Maria Pongonis (27), Leslie Newell (24) and Rachel Torblaa (22), were all within six swing of each other. UC showed its balance again on Oct. 9 vs. USF as all five hitters took between 13 and 26 swings. DuPont was again the leader with 26 attempts, with Torblaa (21) and Pongonis (20) right behind. Newell (16) and Hellsten (13) also got in the act.
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 its Tuesday match vs. Morehead State with an all-time record of 699-437-8 (.618) and with win number 700 will become only the second Conference USA school to reach the feat. Houston, with an all-time record of 764-417 (.647), is currently the only 700-club member in the league, with USF (683), Memphis (681) and Louisville (615) getting close.
LOOKING FOR MORE REVENGE: The Bearcats have successfully avenged crucial past losses to both Western Kentucky and USF over the last week, but will now be out to repay Houston for last season?s defeat. During the 2003 Conference USA Tournament, the Bearcats, seeded No. 1, were eliminated from the tournament by eighth-seeded Houston.
SENIOR DOMINANCE: UC?s senior class of Julie DuPont, Leslie Newell and Rachel Torblaa have found great success in league play during their careers, as they hold a collective 55-7 record against Conference USA schools. Since Newell is a fifth-year senior, the mark dates back to the 2000 season, Newell?s freshman year.
DUPONT STREAKING: With 16 kills on Saturday vs. USF, senior Julie DuPont extended her streak of consecutive matches with at least 10 kills to 27. The current streak is the fourth-longest in the country, trailing Stacey Gordon (Ohio State-92), Ogonna Nnamani (Stanford-43), Leah Ratzlaff (Creighton-39) and Tera Lobdell (Northern Illinois-32). DuPont is tied with Mary Hock of Winthrop and Sarah Meek of Idaho at 27.
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 being season highs. The latter topped the total with eight at Western Kentucky on Oct. 5.
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.
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.
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 (2.98) and third in digs (2.63). 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 18 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 12 wins, she is averaging 2.95 kills and 2.82 digs per game and hitting .188, but the numbers dip to 3.05 kills and 2.32 digs and a .038 hitting percentage in UC?s six defeats.
BACK ON TRACK: After struggling to hit during a six-match losing streak earlier this season, the Bearcats have rebounded during the current seven-match winning streak with some outstanding hitting. UC has hit .284 in the last seven matches, after hitting just .144 in the previous six. The .284 mark includes a season-best effort of .420 in an Oct. 9 win over USF. During the losing streak, UC hit under .100 in the last three contests, while no Bearcat player hit over .228. The team?s top two offensive threats, Julie DuPont and Maria Pongonis, hit just .152 and .038 respectively in the six matches. 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.
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.
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 four block assists over the weekend, Torblaa moved closer to third in school history with 375. 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 (seventh-1.27) and total blocks (seventh-431).
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-plus assists in just three games in UC?s win over DePaul on Oct. 2 and again in an Oct. 9 triumph over USF. Olson ranks seventh in Conference USA averaging 11.51 assists per game.
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.
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.
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. Junior Maria Pongonis became the third Bearcat to reach 150th games this season at Western Kentucky on Oct. 5. Already, Hellsten is listed in two categories, ranking fifth in blocks per game (1.30) and ninth in hitting percentage (.272). Olson ranks ninth in assists per game with 4.41, while also being shown ninth with 790 career assists. Pongonis broke onto the charts in kills per game, tied for seventh with 3.26 per game.
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 109 wins in his Cincinnati career, topping Mike Lingenfelter?s previous mark. 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 128-79 (.618) in his coaching career, with an even more impressive 109-39 (.736) mark at UC.
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 1,876 kills and 1,167 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).
DUPONT JUMPING THE C-USA CHARTS: In addition to her name being written throughout the UC record books, Julie DuPont is making waves in the Conference USA annals as well. DuPont is currently fourth in conference history in kills with 1,876 after overtaking both Becky Tenkman (UC) and Sonja Percan (Louisville) in the Bearcats? Oct. 8 win over UAB. Next on the list for DuPont to catch is former DePaul star Stephanie Bishop with 2,052 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.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bearcats? two wins over the weekend allowed UC to stretch its consecutive home match winning streak, as they have now won 21 in a row, dating back to 2002. The new streak, which became a record in the Sept. 7 win over Miami (Ohio), is tops 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 121-50 (.708) record at home, with exactly half of those losses coming in a three-year span from 1991-93. A handful of those contests have also taken place outside Fifth Third Arena at both the former Laurence Hall and more recently, at St. Ursula Academy. UC has now won 10 straight home Conference USA matches and 16 in a row in home non-conference action.
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.
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 sixth 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 27, seven better than Torblaa?s season total. UC has had at least five aces in 11 of 18 matches this season, after reaching five in 21 of 33 matches last year.
BEARCATS IN C-USA: In the eight-plus years of Conference USA play, the Bearcats have gone 110-26 for an .808 winning percentage, ranking second in both, trailing only Louisville. The Bearcats have now won 74 of their last 87 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.
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 0.48 kills, 1.32 digs and 1.32 assists per game. She is also third on the team with 18 service aces. Dossman has registered double digit digs in 12 matches this season as the starting libero, averaging 3.43 digs per game including a career-high 18 against Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 11. Maldo has seen limited action, averaging 0.70 kills and 0.30 digs per game, while May has appeared in two matches for the Bearcats.
TIME CHANGE: The start time for UC?s home match on Nov. 6 vs. East Carolina has been changed to 7:30 p.m.
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.
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: Following the battle with Morehead State, the Bearcats will gear up for a pair of key Conference USA road contests this weekend. UC will make the C-USA Texas swing, travelling to Houston on Friday (Oct. 15), before moving on to TCU for a Saturday evening (Oct. 16) contest. Both teams enter the week ranked high in the conference standings, as TCU is tied with Cincinnati and Louisville for first place at 4-0 and Houston is just one-game back at 3-1 in the league race.