TicketsOct. 2, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
BEARCATS HOST PAIR OF BIG EAST CONTESTS: Cincinnati begins a five-match home stretch this weekend when Cincinnati welcomes DePaul and Notre Dame to Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats and Blue Demons square off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, before Cincinnati and Notre Dame meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. The match between the Bearcats and the Fighting Irish will be televised on ESPNU with Same Gore handling play-by-play duties and Krista Blunk providing the color commentary.
PROMOTIONS SET FOR MATCH BETWEEN BEARCATS AND FIGHTING IRISH: Sunday's match between Cincinnati and Notre Dame marks SEE YOU IN COURT day and due to Cincinnati head coach Reed Sunahara's background, all fans are encouraged to wear something Hawaiian to the match. Cincinnati volleyball T-shirts will be provided to student fans while supplies last and all UC students get in free with their student ID card. For groups of 10 or more, there will be a discounted ticket price of $1 per person. Following the match, the Cincinnati volleyball team will have a meet and greet session with youth volleyball teams from the Cincinnati area.
NINE BEHIND THE LINE: In a loss to UConn on Sunday, Sept. 28, freshman Missy Harpenau had a tremendous performance behind the service line. Harpenau recorded nine service aces in the match, which is the second highest single-game aces total in school history and in BIG EAST history. At one point in the fourth set, Harpenau reeled off five straight service aces. Harpenau ranks first in BIG EAST-only matches in service aces per set (1.25) and third in the BIG EAST in all matches with 0.45 service aces per set, which also ranks 50th nationally.
UC PLAYERS RANK AMONG BIG EAST LEADERS: Heading in this week's matches, six Cincinnati players rank among the Top 10 in the BIG EAST in all matches in five statistical categories:
MOVING UP THE CHARTS: 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 482 career block assists and is nine block assists away from passing Hellsten. Nevitt also is just three total blocks away from passing Hellsten on the program's all-time total blocks chart.
ABOUT DEPAUL: The Blue Demons enter the weekend with a 1-13 overall record and a 0-2 BIG EAST mark after dropping a three-set match at Georgetown and a four-set match at USF in their opening weekend of conference action last weekend. Sarah Cullen leads the DePaul offensive attack, averaging 3.70 kps. Defensively, Katherine Knutson averages a team-best 2.85 dps, while Jacie Fielder owns a team-high 0.62 bps average.
THE SERIES WITH THE BLUE DEMONS: Cincinnati owns a 24-15 lead in the all-time series versus DePaul. Cincinnati has won six consecutive matches and seven straight home matches over the Blue Demons.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME: The Fighting Irish head into the second week of conference play with a 7-7 overall mark and a 2-0 BIG EAST record. Last weekend, Notre Dame opened conference action last weekend with two wins on the road at USF and Georgetown. Christina Kaelin leads the way averaging 3.08 kps, while three other Notre Dame players are averaging over 2.45 kps. The Fighting Irish are one of the top teams in the conference as they rank among the Top 3 in both digs and blocks in overall matches. Five Irish players average over 2.00 dps led by Frenchy Silva's 3.02 dps. Kellie Sciacca leads the team in blocks, with 0.9 bps.
THE SERIES WITH THE FIGHTING IRISH: Notre Dame owns a commanding 8-1 edge in the all-time series. Cincinnati's lone win in the series was a three-game sweep at home on Oct. 28, 2006, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the series when playing in Clifton.