TicketsAug. 15, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team was tabbed to finish third in the BIG EAST by a vote of the conference coaches. Senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) and sophomore Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) were selected to the preseason all-BIG EAST team.
"We have to prove that we are one of the best teams in the conference," said head coach Reed Sunahara. "Our goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament and we have put together a strong non-conference schedule to prepare ourselves for BIG EAST play and a tournament berth."
The Bearcats finished with 172 points, just three points behind 2007 league champion St. John's, and earned two first-place votes. Louisville was selected as the preseason favorites to capture the 2008 BIG EAST title.
Nevitt, a three-time first-team all-BIG EAST selection was named to the preseason all-conference squad for the third straight season. A two-time all-America choice, she ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in 2007 with 1.38 blocks per game and led the Bearcats with 3.71 kills per game.
Niemer, the 2007 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, was a second-team all-conference choice last season after averaging 3.59 kills and 0.49 service aces per game.
UC opens its 2008 season by hosting the sixth annual State Farm/Vernon Manor Bearcats Invitational on Aug. 29-31 in Fifth Third Arena. UC will take on Wright State, Tennessee Tech and Marshall during the three-day tournament.
Season tickets are available now by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or logging on to www.CATSTIX.com.