TicketsOct. 10, 2008
CINCINNATI - Behind a career-high 18 kills from freshman Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), the University of Cincinnati's volleyball team defeated Seton Hall in four games at Fifth Third Arena Friday evening. Alongside Harpenau's 18 kills, senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) had 16 kills and hit .464 and senior Jessica Elley (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert) posted 14 kills and hit .542 for Cincinnati (14-5; 3-2 BIG EAST). Seton Hall fell to 10-9 overall and 2-2 in the BIG EAST.
The opening stanza went back and forth all the way until the middle of the set when two Seton Hall kills put the Pirates in front, 16-13, forcing the first Cincinnati timeout of the set. The Bearcats trailed by two points as late as 23-21, but Cincinnati battled to the end. An Elley kill brought Cincinnati within one point, 23-22, bringing sophomore Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) to the service line. Upton tied the set with a service ace, and two Pirate attack errors gave Cincinnati a 25-23 come-from-behind triumph.
The second set started just as the first until kills by sophomore Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry), Upton, and Harpenau put the Bearcats on top, 14-11. The Pirates battled back to tie the score at 15-15, before a pair of Cincinnati miscues found the Pirates in front, 17-15. Seton Hall held a two-point lead as late as 24-22, but Pirate attack error followed by a Bearcat block tied the set at 24-24 and forced a Seton Hall timeout. However, consecutive kills by Rachael Thornquist handed Seton Hall a 26-24 set-two victory, tying the match at one set apiece.
Cincinnati came out as the aggressor in set three as two kills apiece by Nevitt and Harpenau aided an early surge that placed the Bearcats in front, 9-4. The Pirates hung tough and battled all the way back within one point, 18-17, but the Bearcats stayed true to their game and used a kill by Elley and another timely ace from Upton to regain a comfortable three-point lead, 20-17. Cincinnati's final two points were scored courtesy of Nevitt kills as Cincinnati secured a pivotal 25-20 third-set win.
Timely blocks and consecutive balls put to the floor by Elley sparked the crowd and placed the Bearcats in front, 11-7, in set four. Cincinnati's lead reached as many as five points, 16-11, but a three-point Pirate run kept Seton Hall within striking distance, 16-14. After Seton Hall tied the score at 20-20, a kill down the line by Harpenau followed by consecutive kills through the defense by Nevitt pushed the Bearcat lead back to three points, 23-20, forcing a Pirate timeout. Out of the timeout, Nevitt recorded another kill, giving the Bearcats match point. The Pirates spoiled one match point, but a Harpenau kill down the line gave Cincinnati a 25-21 set-four win.
Harpenau not only recorded a match-high 18 kills, but she hit a season-best .333. Upton and junior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) carried the defense with seven blocks and 17 digs, respectively.
The Bearcats return to the floor on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. versus Villanova. Sunday's match is a DIG FOR THE CURE match to help the volleyball team raise money in support of the fight against breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to donate money to help the team and to wear pink.