TicketsSept. 16, 2005
Contact: Shawn Sell
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Cincinnati hit a season-best .435, including .760 in the third game as the Bearcats swept a three-game contest from George Washington on Friday afternoon during play in the State Farm Bearcat Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor Hotel. UC won by scores of 30-23, 30-28, 30-11 to even its record at 4-4 on the year.
Maria Pongonis turned in her sixth double-double of the season, recording 13 kills and adding 12 digs, while hitting .370. Jenny Custer hit .500 for the second straight contest and finished with 12 kills.
George Washington (2-7) got a match-high 15 kills from Janine Brown, who also hit .400. Jessica Vesey led the defense with 13 digs.
Game one was nip and tuck all the way to the end and saw a total of 12 ties and three lead changes. UC started the match slow falling behind 6-3 and not taking its first lead until a Colonial service error made it 23-22 in favor of the home team. After a Brown kill knotted the score again, the Bearcats ripped off seven straight points, the last three coming on Custer kills to seal the 30-23 triumph.
Much like game one, the second frame was tightly contested and ended with seven ties and four lead changes. UC saw its lead stand at 17-14 until a 6-2 run by GW put them in a one-point hole. Cincinnati battled back to take a 22-20 lead on two straight kills by Erin Maldo. The Bearcats put themselves in a position to take a two games to none lead as Pongonis put down a kill to make it 29-25. But George Washington responded, scoring three in a row, two on Lindsay Vernand kills to creep within 29-28. UC kept the Bearcat faithful fired up when Pongonis ended the game with a kill to cap the two-point win.
The Bearcats were relentless in the third game scoring the first four points and never looking back. As mentioned, UC hit .760 for the frame, while holding GW to just .036. Head coach Reed Sunahara was able to clear his bench during the game, paving the way for two kills each by freshmen Jessica Elley and Lindsey Peterson.
UC's hot hitting was aided by setter Noel Olson's 46 assists. Myanna Hellsten and Jessie Nevitt each chipped in with eight kills and three blocks for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats will wrap up tournament play tonight with a 7:30 p.m. championship match-up with Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
UW-Milwaukee 3, Jacksonville State 1
Sarah Moore led three Panther players in double figure kills as UW-Milwaukee scored a four-game win over Jacksonville State in the opening match of Friday play at the State Farm Bearcat Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor Hotel.
Moore recorded 16 kills on .500 hitting, while Leanne Felsing and Cheryl Hegemann tacked on 11 each. UWM stands at 7-4 after the 30-25, 30-27, 28-30, 30-22 victory.
Former Bearcat Suzi Terrell led all players with 18 kills in the match, while Abbey Breit tacked on 16. The Gamecocks fall to 3-6 with the defeat.