TicketsCINCINNATI, Ohio--The University of Cincinnati volleyball team will face eight NCAA Tournament teams, in addition to entering its first season of BIG EAST competition in 2005. Of the eight post-season qualifiers, three finished the year ranked among the nation's top-20.
The high point of the docket comes on Sept. 8-10 when the Bearcats travel to Honolulu, Hawaii to take part in the Aston Imua Challenge. At the tournament, UC will face NCAA Tournament participants Hawai'i, UCLA and Cal State Northridge. On top of the post season berths, Hawai'i (No. 8) and UCLA (No. 9) both finished 2004 nationally-ranked.
Along with the eight tournament teams and three nationally-ranked squads, the 28 confirmed opponents on the Bearcats' schedule held a collective winning percentage of .604 (497-326) during the 2004 season.
The home portion of the schedule opens Sept. 16-17 when UC hosts the third annual Vernon Manor Bearcat Invitational. Joining Cincinnati in the four-team, two-day tournament will be Jacksonville State, George Washington and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
UC's first BIG EAST season kicks off one week later when the Bearcats host St. John's (Sept. 23) and Connecticut (Sept. 25). Other home conference matches include visits from NCAA Tournament teams Louisville (Oct. 15) and Pittsburgh (Oct. 23), along with West Virginia (Oct. 21), Syracuse (Nov. 11) and Marquette (Nov. 13).
"We are extremely excited about the upcoming season, our first in the BIG EAST," stated sixth-year head coach Reed Sunahara. "In addition to the challenges of a new conference, we have put together a very competitive non-conference schedule that will test us early on. While we do have a young team, we feel they have a strong upside and will certainly be up to the task of competing against such a quality schedule."
The Bearcats three other matches against 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifiers will be played on the road with trips to Notre Dame (Oct. 30) and Dayton (Nov. 8) on the ledger. UC opens the season Sept. 2-3 at New Mexico State's Tournament, where they will meet the defending Sun Belt Conference Champion and NCAA Tournament participant Aggies. The Bearcats' other two opponents for that weekend are still to be announced.
The 2005 edition of the BIG EAST Conference Tournament will be played in Louisville, Ky. The event is scheduled to be played in the Kentucky International Convention Center.
UC wrapped up the 2004 season with a record of 22-11 to mark its 10th consecutive 20-win season. A total of seven letterwinners will return from that team.