TicketsAug. 30, 2008
CINCINNATI - Sophomore Stephanie Niemer's (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) 20 kills paced the University of Cincinnati's volleyball team to a four-set win over Tennessee Tech in its second match of the State Farm Bearcats Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor. Cincinnati improved to 2-0 on the season, while Tennessee Tech fell to 0-2.
Cincinnati created some breathing room early in set one as a kill apiece by senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw) and coupled with a block by the duo put the Bearcats on top 7-4. A four-point surge by the Golden Eagles put Tennessee Tech ahead, 8-7. After Cincinnati re-gained a one-point advantage, 11-10, kills by Niemer and freshman Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North), a service ace by sophomore Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) and a Golden Eagle attack error extended the Cincinnati cushion to five points, 15-10. The Golden Eagles retaliated and eventually tied the game three times, with the last occurring at 20-20, before a Tennessee Tech attack error, a kill by Fesl and a service ace by Niemer pushed Cincinnati ahead 23-20. Kills by Nevitt and Niemer solidified a 25-22 set-one win for the Bearcats. Niemer led the Bearcats attack with eight kills in the first set.
The early portion of the second set remained close until Tennessee Tech scored six consecutive points, establishing a 15-8 lead. Tennessee Tech's lead reached as large as eight points, 22-14, and the Golden Eagles went on to win the second set, 25-19.
The Golden Eagles got off to another good start in the pivotal third game, taking an 8-4 lead. Three consecutive kills by the Bearcats put Cincinnati on top for the first time in game three, 14-13. A see-saw battle ensued until a block by the freshman duo of Brandl and Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) and back-to-back kills by Brandl put the Bearcats on top 23-20. A Golden Eagle miscue followed by a Niemer kill put Cincinnati ahead two games to one. Brandl knocked six balls to the floor and hit at a .714 clip in the third set.
Neither team led by more than two points in the fourth set until consecutive Golden Eagle kills and a Cincinnati attack error put Tennessee Tech on top 17-14. A kill and service ace by Harpenau followed by a senior Jessica Elley (Gilbert, Az./Gilbert) kill pushed the Bearcats ahead 22-21. After Tennessee Tech tied the game at 22-22, a kill and service ace by Brandl gave the Bearcats match point and Niemer delivered the knock-out blow with a kill from the left antenna.
Niemer finished with a match-high 20 kills, while junior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) collected a match-high 17 digs.
Leah Meffert led the Golden Eagles with 15 kills.
Cincinnati plays for the State Farm Bearcats Invitational crown on Sunday, Aug. 30 against Marshall at noon. Both teams enter the match with a 2-0 record.