TicketsSept. 10, 2008
ASU Sheraton Invitational Game Notes
BEARCATS TRAVEL TO ARIZONA STATE FOR ASU SHERATON INVITATIONAL: After a 1-2 record at the Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge, Cincinnati travels to Tempe, Ariz., to play in the Arizona State Sheraton Invitational Sept. 12-13. The Bearcats play two matches on Friday, Sept. 12, versus Cal State Northridge (1 p.m. ET) and Arizona State (10 p.m. ET), before concluding the tournament against Montana at 2 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Sept. 13.
NIEMER BRINGS HOME ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Sophomore Stephanie Niemer was named to the Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge All-Tournament team last weekend, giving her all-tournament honors in consecutive weeks. During the opening weekend of the season, Niemer was named MVP of the State Farm Bearcats Invitational after averaging 4.40 kps.
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 203-117 and a 184-77 record as the leader of the Bearcats program.
FIVE BEARCATS RANK AMONG CONFERENCE LEADERS: With two weeks completed in the 2008 season, five Bearcat players rank in the Top six in five BIG EAST statistical categories. Just as she has done throughout her career, senior Jessie Nevitt has been a force on both sides of the net in the early stages of the 2008 campaign. Nevitt ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.391) and fifth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.17 b/s). Sophomore Stephanie Niemer sits in the fourth position in kills per set (3.46 k/s), while fellow sophomore Annie Fesl ranks sixth in assists per set (9.58 a/s). Senior Jessica Elley and freshman Missy Harpenau rank third and fifth, respectively, in the conference with 0.62 sa/g and 0.58 sa/g.
MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Heading into this weekend's ASU Sheraton Invitational, junior Jaime Frey sits in eight place on UC's all-time digs chart. Frey needs two more digs to move into seventh place past Dani Peterson (1,132; 1989-92), five digs to pass Sonja Jackson (1,135; 1984-87) for sixth place and 23 digs to move past Katie Graham (1,153; 1996-99) for fifth place. Senior Jessie Nevitt is closing in on current assistant coach Myanna Hellsten, who played at UC from 2003-06, for second place on UC's block assists chart. Nevitt has 453 career block assists and is 37 block assists away from tying Hellsten.
ACES UP: One of the Bearcats strengths in the early portion of the 2008 campaign has been its serving. Through Sept. 7, Cincinnati ranks second in the BIG EAST and sixth in the nation in service aces per set (2.58 sa/s). Senior Jessica Elley and freshman Missy Harpenau lead the way averaging 0.63 sa/s and 0.58 sa/s, respectively. Elley ranks 29th nationally in service aces, while Harpenau ranks 39th. Senior Jessie Nevitt also ranks among the nation's elite in hitting percentage. Nevitt is hitting at a .391 clip, which ranks 44th nationally.
ABOUT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE: The Matadors head to Tempe, Ariz., with a 4-2 record after winning two of three matches at the Sacramento State Invitational last weekend. The Matadors possess a well-balanced offensive attack as they have five players averaging over 2.00 kps, led by Brittany Williams' 2.60 k/s. Defensively, the Cal State Northridge duo of Val Kepler and Lynda Morales average 1.22 b/s and 1.00 b/s, respectively.
THE SERIES WITH THE MATADORS: Cincinnati won the lone meeting between the schools in 2005, 3-1. This will be the second time that the schools have played each other at a neutral site.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE: The hosting Arizona State Sun Devils look to improve upon their 5-2 record at home this weekend. Four Sun Devils average over 2.00 kps led by Sarah Reaves' 4.08 kps (28th nationally). Camri Zwiesler ranks second on the team with 3.25 kps. As a squad, the Sun Devils rank 40th nationally in blocks per set, averaging 2.54 bps. ASU's top blocker is Paige Mittelstaedt (1.31 bps).
THE SERIES WITH SUN DEVILS: This will be the second meeting between Cincinnati and Arizona State. The first encounter occurred in the 2002 NCAA Tournament when ASU advanced to the second round with a dramatic five-set win over the Bearcats.
ABOUT MONTANA: The Grizzlies travel down to Arizona State with a 4-3 record. Offensively, Amy Roberts spearheads the Montana attack averaging 3.08 kps. Similar to Cincinnati, one of the Grizzlies' strengths is their serving, considering Montana has recorded 46 service aces this season compared to 20 for its opponents. As a team, the Grizzlies average 15.20 digs per set, which ranks is tops among the tournament field.
THE SERIES WITH THE GRIZZLIES: Saturday's match between Montana and Cincinnati will be the first meeting between the schools.