TicketsOct. 20, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second week in a row, freshman outside hitter Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) was named BIG EAST Volleyball Freshman of the Week, while sophomore Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) earned BIG EAST Honor Roll recognition, the conference office announced today. Harpenau and Niemer helped the Bearcats to a 2-0 record last week, which included a win at Western Kentucky and a conference victory at home versus Louisville, the Bearcats first win over the Cardinals since 2003.
In Cincinnati's four-set triumph over a Western Kentucky squad that had received AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll votes earlier in the season, Harpenau had a solid all-around performance with 10 kills, four digs, two blocks, and a service ace. Against Louisville, Harpenau posted her third kill-dig double-double of the season with 12 kills and a season-best 17 digs. For the week, Harpenau averaged 2.75 kps and 2.62 dps.
Niemer led the Bearcats in kills last week with 31 kills, equaling 3.88 kps. Niemer also averaged 1.38 dps, 0.75 sa/s and 0.75 bps. In Cincinnati's BIG EAST triumph over Louisville, Niemer knocked down a team-high 18 kills to the floor.
Pittsburgh's Kelly Campbell earned BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Week honors for the second straight week, which marks the first time this season that two players have earned player of the week and freshman of the week honors in consecutive weeks.
Cincinnati returns to the Fifth Third Arena floor versus Morehead State on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m., before hitting the road for crucial BIG EAST tilts at Syracuse and at Marquette.