TicketsNov. 17, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio---Cincinnati lost a seven-point lead in game four and ultimately a five-game match to Notre Dame, eliminating the Bearcats from the 2006 BIG EAST Championship on Friday night in Fifth Third Arena. Notre Dame advances to the semi-finals to take on top-seeded St. John's with the 30-28, 25-30, 28-30, 30-26, 15-9 victory.
After scoring the last three points to take game three, the Bearcats seemed destined for the semi's, holding a 24-17 advantage late in game four. It was not to be, however, as out of a timeout, Notre Dame ripped off eight straight points and 13 of the final 15 to send the match to game five. Game five was all Irish, as the No. 5 seed raced to a 9-3 lead and never looked back.
First team All-BIG EAST selection Jessie Nevitt had an outstanding performance for Cincinnati (21-7), tallying 20 kills on .306 hitting and adding five blocks. Jaime Frey turned in another monster outing on defense, setting the UC five-game record for digs in a match with 37. Jessica Elley tacked on a double-double with 17 kills and 15 digs, while freshman Katey Schroeder added a career-best 10 kills.
Despite a combined 48 kills from All-BIG EAST first team selections Mallorie Croal (25) and Adrianna Stasiuk (23), the key to the Notre Dame (17-11) win was freshman Christina Kaelin's 12 kills. After sitting on the bench for the first three games, a fresh Kaelin entered the match at the start of game four, tallying seven kills in that frame and five more in the deciding game five.
"We have to tip our hat to Notre Dame, they played well," UC head coach Reed Sunahara said. "Down the stretch, we just didn't execute and that killed us. After the third game and into the fourth, I felt like we were cruising a little bit, but then we got complacent. We just didn't take advantage of our chances."
The opening game would provide a preview of things to come, as 10 ties and two lead changes highlighted a very competitive stanza. Notre Dame led early by as much as four, but the scoreboard tipped in the Bearcats' favor with a 6-1 run that made it 21-20. The score stayed within two points until UC used a Nevitt kill to knot the score at 28. Notre Dame would go on for the win, though as Croal dropped a kill and Cincinnati was whistled for a ball handling error.
The Bearcats were red hot in game two, hitting .348 in a convincing 30-25 win. UC trailed very early in the going, but led by a 16-11 count at a Notre Dame timeout following an Elley kill. Out of the break, Cincinnati would score eight of the next 12 to force the Irish's second stoppage at 24-15. Notre Dame used a quick 3-0 spurt to force a UC timeout at 26-21, but a kill from Schroeder sealed up the five-point victory.
After the intermission, both teams struggled in the hitting department, with UC stealing game three despite a hitting disadvantage of .098 to .115. The Fighting Irish held a 13-7 lead until four straight Bearcat points cut it to 13-11. Notre Dame bounced back to assume a 24-18 lead until five consecutive Irish errors brought UC within a point. Following a Jenny Custer ace that gave the hosts a 27-26 lead, a Stasiuk kill and an Irish block put the visitors in control at 28-27. Needing just two points for victory, the Irish came up with none as a service error, an Elley kill and a Croal error handed the Bearcats a two games to one lead.
Cincinnati broke open an early 8-6 lead to force Notre Dame timeouts at both 17-12 and 24-17 in game four. Things started to go down hill from there for UC as two errors started a downfall that culminated with two kills each by Kaelin and Croal and a 25-24 Notre Dame lead. UC would get to 27-26 on an Elley kill, but the sophomore was blocked by Kim Kristoff and Megan Fesl on the next play. Notre Dame's block party continued on the next point as Kristoff stuffed Nevitt one-on-one. Croal then ripped an ace and Notre Dame took the improbable win, forcing game five.
That fifth game was never really in doubt as Notre Dame hit .368 and held Cincinnati to -.045. Three kills by Kaelin got the Irish off to a flying start at 9-3 as Sunahara called timeout. Cincinnati fought back to 12-8 following a Noel Olson kill and a Myanna Hellsten ace. But the Bearcats would score just once more as Stasiuk combined on a block and tallied her 23rd kill to end UC's BIG EAST title hopes.
Despite the defeat, Cincinnati does have one more match remaining on its 2006 schedule. The Bearcats will host regional rival Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. It will be Senior Night as Hellsten and Olson will be honored in a post-match ceremony.