TicketsSept. 8, 2008
HONOLULU - In its final match of the Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge, the University of Cincinnati's volleyball team lost in three sets to the No. 11 Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, 25-11, 25-17, 25-23. Hawai'i (4-2) won the tournament with a 3-0 record, while Cincinnati (4-2) finished in third place with a 1-2 finish.
Cincinnati held an early lead in the first set courtesy of two kills by freshman Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North). Tied at 4-4, the Rainbow Wahine scored nine of the following 11 points to take a 13-6 advantage. The Bearcats connected on the next two points courtesy of a Brandl kill and a kill by freshman Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), but the serving of Dani Mafua gave Hawai'i eight consecutive points and the Rainbow Wahine went on to win the first set, 25-11.
Cincinnati remained within striking distance against the Rainbow Wahine in set two until three straight Hawai'i points gave the Rainbow Wahine a 16-10 cushion. Cincinnati closed within five points on two occasions, but the Bearcats could not close the gap any further as Hawai'i took the second set, 25-17.
Seven ties occurred in the early portion of the third set until back-to-back kills by sophomore Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) and senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw), and a service ace by Brandl put the Bearcats in front, 10-7. Still holding on to a two-point cushion, consecutive kills by Nevitt coupled with a Rainbow Wahine attack error and a Harpenau kill gave the Bearcats a 16-10 lead, their biggest of the set. Hawai'i battled back to tie the set on two occasions, with the last occurring at 21-21, before eventually taking a 23-21 lead. The Bearcats rallied within one point, 24-23, off a Nevitt kill, but a Hawai'i kill gave the Rainbow Wahine a 25-23 set-three win.
Niemer led the way for the Bearcats with a team-high nine kills en route to being named to the Honolulu Advertiser All-Tournament Team. Niemer earned her second straight all-tournament nomination after being named the 2008 State Farm Bearcats Invitational Most Valuable Player last weekend.
The Bearcats head right from Hawai'i to Tempe, Az. To participate in the Arizona State Sheraton Invitational. Cincinnati opens the ASU Sheraton Invitational with two matches beginning with Cal State-Northridge at noon (ET), before playing tournament host Arizona State at 10 p.m. (ET) on Friday, Sept. 13.