TicketsFeb. 11, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio--Senior Maria Pongonis took home most valuable player honors, highlighting the University of Cincinnati volleyball team's season-end banquet, held Saturday at the Vernon Manor Hotel. Pongonis was also bestowed the Stephanie Rosfeld Memorial Award, honoring the memory of the former assistant coach.
Pongonis (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) led the Bearcats in kills per game in 2005 with 3.66, while ranking second with 3.54 digs per game. For her outstanding play, Pongonis was tabbed a second team All-BIG EAST selection. In addition to the MVP award, Pongonis was given the Rosfeld Memorial Award, which is voted on by UC players, coaches and staff. The award recognizes the Bearcat player who exemplified the positive qualities and love for the program shown by the late Rosfeld.
Three other UC players were honored with special awards at the banquet. Sophomore Jenny Custer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) earned most improved honors, while Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) was tabbed best offensive player and Melissa Zenz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) was the squad's best defensive player.
Custer came on strong in her first season as the Bearcats' right-side hitter, ranking second on the team with 3.13 kills per game and adding 2.00 digs and 0.81 blocks.
Nevitt's list of honors was long, including BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-American and first team all-conference. The redshirt freshman hit a team-best .337, adding 3.11 kills per game and adding a team-leading 1.38 blocks per game.
Zenz led the Bearcat defense with 5.22 digs per game, breaking the school record for most digs per game in a season. The true freshman recorded at least 10 digs in all 32 of the Bearcats' 2005 matches.
Cincinnati concluded the 2005 season with a 20-12 record, marking the program's 11th consecutive season with at least 20 wins. In its first season as members of the BIG EAST, UC went 9-5 in league play, before advancing to the semi-finals of the conference tournament.