TicketsSept. 20, 2005
Contact: Shawn Sell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.---Despite a school record 13 blocks from Jessie Nevitt, the University of Cincinnati saw its four-match win streak snapped at the hands of Marshall in a five-game battle at the Cam Henderson Center on Tuesday night. The Thundering Herd took the match by scores of 27-30, 30-28, 30-27, 24-30, 15-11 to improve to 8-4 on the year. The Bearcats stand at 5-5 with the setback.
For the second time this season, Nevitt rewrote a portion of the UC record book as her 13 total blocks established a new mark for a five-game match, eclipsing a previous best of 12 held by Beth Buerhaus and Stephanie Meinig.
After hitting .311 during last week's State Farm Bearcat Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor Hotel, the Bearcats struggled offensively against Marshall, hitting just .187, including .217 in the decisive game five. Marshall overcame a .000 hitting performance in game four to finish at .198 for the evening.
Maria Pongonis led the Cincinnati attack with 18 kills, just one off of her season-high and added 15 digs for her eighth double-double of the year. Myanna Hellsten hit .409 and tacked on 11 kills, while Jenny Custer had 10, but was limited to just .081 hitting.
Kelly-Anne Billingy, the Preseason Player of the Year in Conference USA, led all players with 26 kills to pace the Herd, but was held to only .158 hitting. Stephanie Cahill and Amber Sims each recorded 14 kills for Marshall, while Nickie Sanlin chipped in with 10.
The night got off to a good start for Cincinnati, as it took an early five-point lead, only to find itself trailing by five as late as 21-16. UC then used an 8-2 run to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Down the stretch, Marshall got back within one, but a Hellsten kill, a service ace by Erin Maldo and a Pongonis kill put the exclamation point on a 30-27 Bearcat triumph.
The Bearcats took an early timeout at the start of game two, trailing by a 5-2 count. The frame would go on to contain eight ties and eight lead changes, but ultimately saw UC come up on the short end of a 30-28 decision. Leading 23-22, the Bearcats saw Marshall rip off four straight point to take a lead it wouldn't let hold of. UC managed to even the game at 28, but back-to-back kills by Sims gave the win to Marshall.
Marshall controlled much of game three, leading by as much as six, only to see Cincinnati charge back to knot the game at 25. That would be as close as the Bearcats would get, though, as the Thundering Herd scored five of the last seven points to take the win.
Needing a win to stay in the match, UC rushed to a 4-0 lead and never looked back at the start of game four. The Bearcats hit only .192 in the game, but a .000 performance by the Herd helped the Bearcats to a 30-24 victory.
The deciding game was none too kind to the Bearcats as Marshall turned a 4-3 edge into a 9-4 lead that would prove to be the difference maker. A .400 hitting performance in the deciding stanza provided the Herd with a hard fought 15-11 win in the deciding frame.
In addition to Nevitt's 13 blocks, Pongonis added a career-best six and Custer chipped in five. Freshman libero Melissa Zenz provided 15 digs, as did Pongonis. On the Marshall side, Cahill led all players with 23 digs, leading three Herd players in double figure digs.
The Bearcats will now prepare for the opening of BIG EAST play that kicks off this weekend. UC will host St. John's on Friday, with Connecticut coming to Fifth Third Arena on Sunday.