UC Volleyball Picked Third In Preseason BIG EAST Rankings

Aug. 9, 2006

CINCINNATI, Ohio---For the University of Cincinnati volleyball team, the 2005 season ended with a bitter taste in the mouths of the players and coaches, as despite a 20-win season, the Bearcats weren't invited to the NCAA Tournament. That taste has now gotten a little sweeter as Cincinnati was picked third in the BIG EAST in the preseason coaches poll, while also grabbing one of the 15 first-place votes.

In addition to the team honor, a league-high three Bearcats were named to the preseason all-conference squad. Sophomore Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) headed the list as one of three unanimous selections on the 12-player squad. Senior Noel Olson (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis) and junior Jenny Custer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) joined their teammate on the team.

UC head coach Reed Sunahara, about to enter his seventh year at the helm of the program was overwhelmed, but appreciative with the high ranking his team received.

"It is great that the other coaches in the league think so highly of us," Sunahara stated. "But the bottom line is, we must prove we deserve it on the court. We have a good nucleus, but we are still young. The experience we do have should help us be a good team."

The Bearcats trio awarded positions on the all-conference team were pivotal in UC's 20-12 campaign last season and will be equally important this season, as the squad must cope with the loss of both of last season's outside hitters. Nevitt was the most impressive of the threesome in 2005, bursting onto the scene and grabbing BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, first team all-conference and AVCA honorable mention All-American. A force both offensively (3.11 kills per game, .337 hitting percentage) and defensively (1.38 blocks per game) last season, Nevitt will be counted on heavily again this fall.

The same can be said for Olson, now in her third year as the Bearcats' starting setter. As a junior, Olson enjoyed a career year, ranking second in the BIG EAST with 12.63 assists per game. She was even better in BIG EAST play, averaging a league-leading 13.35 assists per game in conference matches.

Like Nevitt, Custer also had a breakout year in 2005, ranking second on the team with 3.13 kills per game in her first year starting on the right-side. Custer's continued improvement will be paramount in UC's quest for success.

"It is great recognition for our program," Sunahara said of having three players on the all-league team. "With that, we expect each of them to have a great year."

The top of the preseason rankings have a familiar flavor as last season's co-regular season champions Notre Dame and Louisville hold the top-two spots. The Fighting Irish, winners of the BIG EAST Tournament last season received eight first-place votes and 188 points overall, edging the Cardinals by eight points. U of L received the other six first place votes. UC was third with 162 points, just ahead of St. John's (143) and Pittsburgh (142) rounding out the top-five.

Ana Yartseva-Stewart of Louisville was the coaches' selection as the preseason Player of the Year in the BIG EAST.

Cincinnati will start its quest for a 12th straight 20-win season on Aug. 25, opening play in the Bearcats Invitational presented by The Vernon Manor Hotel. UC opens tournament action with Western Michigan, while also battling Maine and UCLA in the event.

2006 BIG EAST Preseason Poll
1. Notre Dame (30-4, 13-1 in 2005)
2. Louisville (31-3, 13-1)
3. Cincinnati (20-12, 9-5)
4. St. John's (23-9, 9-5)
5. Pittsburgh (17-13, 9-5)
6. Marquette (17-13, 8-6)
7. Villanova (21-11, 8-6)
8. Syracuse (25-10, 11-3)
9. Connecticut (15-13, 7-7)
10. Rutgers (11-16, 6-8)
11. Georgetown (6-22, 2-12)
12. West Virginia (16-13, 4-10)
13. USF (4-22, 1-13)
14. Seton Hall (14-16, 4-10)
15. DePaul (4-23, 1-13)

All-League Preseason Team
Diana Andreyko, Pittsburgh
Jenny Custer, Cincinnati
Hui Ping Huang, St. John's
Jamie Mueller, Marquette
Jessie Nevitt, Cincinnati
Noel Olson, Cincinnati
Kacy Sellers, Villanova
Adrianna Stasiuk, Notre Dame
Ashley Tarutis, Notre Dame
Kimberly Todd, Marquette
Lora Yankauskas, Rutgers
Anastasia Yartseva-Stewart, Louisville*

* Preseason Player of the Year