TicketsSept. 3, 2008
BEARCATS BEGIN TWO-WEEK ROAD TRIP IN HAWAI'I: Following a weekend where the Bearcats defeated Wright State (3-0), Tennesse Tech (3-1) and Marshall (3-0) for the 2008 State Farm Bearcats Invitational crown, Cincinnati begins a two-week road trip beginning with three matches in Hawai'i at the Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge. Cincinnati opens play at 11 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, Sept. 4 versus Wyoming, before playing the No. 12 Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. (ET) and No. 11 Hawai'i at 11 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 7.
SUNAHARA GETS 200th WIN: Cincinnati head coach Reed Sunahara earned his 200th career win as the Bearcats defeated Wright State in their season opener in the State Farm Bearcats Invitational. Cincinnati defeated Wright State in straight sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20. Sunahara now owns a career record of 202-115 and a 183-75 record as the leader of the Bearcats program.
RETURNING HOME: Cincinnati head coach Reed Sunahara heads home to Hawai'i as the Bearcats play in the Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge from Sept. 4-7. Sunahara, who grew up in Hawai'i, played college volleyball at UCLA and was a two-time all-American for the Bruins.
ALL-TOURNAMENT AWARDS: Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Niemer was named tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 4.40 kps during the State Farm Bearcats Invitational last weekend. After collecting just eight kills in the first match, Niemer rebounded with 20 kills against Tennessee Tech and 17 kills in a three-set victory over Marshall. Joining Niemer on the all-tournament team was senior middle blocker Jessie Nevitt and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Brandl.
SCOUTING THE FIELD:
ABOUT WYOMING: The Cowgirls head to Hawai'i with a 0-3 mark. Wyoming comes off losses to Oregon State, Portland State, and the College of Charleston at last weekend's Corvallis Invitational. Wyoming is led offensively by sophomore Dani Bedore's 3.17 kills per set.
THE SERIES WITH THE COWGIRLS: Cincinnati won the lone meeting between the schools in four sets in 2001. This will be the second time that the schools have played each other at a neutral site.
ABOUT MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers opened their season on a strong note after defeating Creighton, Texas A&M, and No. 21 LSU at the Bluejay Invitational hosted by Creighton University. Minnesota is paced offensively by three players who average over 3.00 kps in Brook Dieter (3.50 kps), Kyla Roehrig (3.30 kps) and Lauren Gibbemeyer (3.10 kps). Christine Tan anchors the Golden Gopher backcourt after averaging 6.10 dps last weekend en route to earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
THE SERIES WITH GOLDEN GOPHERS: Cincinnati and Minnesota have met on three occassions with the Golden Gophers owning a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. Cincinnati's lone win in the series came by a 3-0 score in 1983. The last time the school's faced off was in 2004 when the Golden Gophers defeated the Bearcats 3-0 as the No. 1 team in the country.
ABOUT HAWAI'I: The Rainbow Wahine enter the weekend with a 1-2 record after hosting a tough season-opening tournament last weeken which featured No. 1 Penn State, the 2007 National Champions, No. 6 UCLA and Ohio. Hawai'i fell to No. 1 Penn State in straight sets and No. 6 UCLA in four sets, while defeating Ohio in three sets. Jamie Houston leads the Hawai'i attack averaging 3.44 kps. Over the weekend, Houston, a 2007 AVCA Honorable-Mention All-American, recorded eight kills against Penn State and five kills against Ohio before exploding for 18 kills against the No. 6 Bruins. Defensively, Tara Hittle leads the team averaging 3.60 dpgs and Amber Kaufman is the top Hawai'i blocker with 1.00 bps.
THE SERIES WITH THE RAINBOW WAHINE: Hawai'i leads the all-time series versus Cincinnati, 2-0, with both matches being played in Hawai'i. In both meetings, the Rainbow Wahine defeated the Bearcats in three sets.