TicketsSept. 3, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M.---Redshirt freshman Jessie Nevitt set a school record with 11 block assists and added a career-best 13 kills, but it wasn't enough to propel Cincinnati past New Mexico State as the host Aggies posted a four-game victory over the Bearcats. NMSU was victorious in the contest by scores of 30-26, 22-30, 30-22, 30-22 to improve to 3-0 on the year. UC is now 1-2.
Nevitt broke a record shared by Rachel Torblaa and Myanna Hellsten for most block assists in a four-game match, while also matching Torblaa's mark for most total blocks in a four-game contest. After being mentored by Torblaa and Hellsten last year, Nevitt was outstanding in her first weekend of collegiate competition, averaging 2.91 kills and 2.00 blocks per game.
Jenny Custer had another stellar performance for the Bearcats, closing in on a triple-double with a career-high 16 kills, 10 digs and a personal-best six blocks. Maria Pongonis registered her second double-double of the weekend with 15 kills and 11 digs. Both Custer and Pongonis were awarded spots on the all-tournament team.
"I thought we got better tonight, but we still weren't good enough," said UC head coach Reed Sunahara. "We still have some things to iron out to get us over the hump."
UC struggled offensively on the night, hitting just .131, including a pair of sub-.100 hitting performances. The Bearcat defense, triggered by Nevitt and Custer's blocks and 26 digs from Melissa Zenz, limited the Aggies to a hitting performance of just .167.
Three members of the New Mexico State squad reached double-figure kills, led by Kim Oguh with 15. Tanya Allen and Alice Borden tacked on 11 apiece in the win for the Aggies.
Noel Olson had a match-best 44 assists for UC, while adding 10 digs. The Aggies got 42 assists and six aces from setter Jackie Choi. On the defense end, Oguh has seven blocks, while Jordan Bostic (19), Brianna Akrie (18) and Krystal Torres (14) all had double figures in the digs department.
The road doesn't get much easier for the Bearcats as they prepare for the Wakiki Beach Marriott Challenge next weekend in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the tournament, UC will face No. 4 Hawai'i, No. 13 UCLA and 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifier Cal State Northridge.