TicketsOct. 13, 2007
VILLANOVA, Pa.---When Cincinnati joined the BIG EAST three years ago, its first trip to Villanova's Nevin Field House was not a memorable one as the Wildcats handed the Bearcats a defeat. Unfortunately for UC, history repeated itself on Saturday as the Wildcats again were victorious, taking a five game win in BIG EAST action. The loss is Cincinnati's second in a row and drops the squad's record to 14-6 overall, 5-2 in the BIG EAST.
The Bearcats recovered from a game one defeat (23-30) to hammer the Wildcats by a 30-14 count in game two. The next two games were split (30-27 Villanova, 30-24 UC), before the Wildcats put the visitors away with a 15-12 game five victory.
Freshman Stephanie Niemer led the way for the Bearcats with 17 kills along with a career-high seven aces. Jessica Elley tacked on 14 kills, but hit just .162 for the afternoon. Jessie Nevitt contributed 11 kills, but had just one block while Jenny Custer added 12 kills.
Cincinnati had no answer for Villanova's (13-7, 5-2 BIG EAST) Alona Cherkez, the BIG EAST leader in kills. Cherkez scorched the Bearcats for 30 kills, leading three Wildcats in double figures. Kacy Sellers tacked on 16, along with nine blocks and Dana Tartazky had 12 kills.
"Obviously, this is not the result we were hoping for today," UC head coach Reed Sunahara said. "The difference today was a lot of freshman-type mistakes on our part and that's part of the game with a team as young as ours. This is a tough loss for us and one that leaves us tied with a slew of teams. We are going to have to get back to work and take care of business to get to where we want to be by the end of the season."
After heading into game five for the fifth time this year, Cincinnati did little to help its chances, hitting just .059 in the frame and committing three service errors. The Bearcats tied the fifth game for the final time at eight, but Villanova scored three of the next four to take control. The Wildcats went up by a 14-10 count on a kill by Tartazky, but UC trimmed the lead to two, with one point coming on a Lindsay Upton kill. Cherkez then came back with kill number 30, sending Villanova to the win.
The Bearcats' defense finished with 10 team blocks, including a career-high six by Upton. Custer and setter Annie Fesl added four each.
Cincinnati will try to snap its two-game losing streak tomorrow, taking on Seton Hall at noon.