TicketsOct. 20, 2008
BEARCATS ROUND OUT HOMESTAND AGAINST EAGLES: Cincinnati plays its final regular-season mid-week contest when the Bearcats welcome Morehead State to Fifth Third Arena for a 7:30 p.m. start on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Following the match on Tuesday, Cincinnati hits the road for a pair of crucial BIG EAST contests at Syracuse and at Marquette.
BACK-TO-BACK: For the second week in a row, freshman outside hitter Missy Harpenau was named BIG EAST Volleyball Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday, Oct. 20. 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-high 17 digs. For the week, Harpenau averaged 2.75 kps and 2.62 dps
NEVITT AT THE NET: Heading into the final stretch of the season, senior Jessie Nevitt is creeping closer to becoming the Cincinnati career leader in block assists and total blocks. Nevitt needs just three block assists and seven total blocks to move into first place past Stephanie Meinig (1997-2000) on both career charts.
SUNAHARA AND NEVITT TO APPEAR ON BEARCATS SPORTS WEEKLY WITH BRIAN KELLY: On Wednesday, Oct. 22, head volleyball coach Reed Sunahara and senior Jessie Nevitt sit down with UC's Tom Gelehrter during a segment on Bearcats Sports Weekly with Brian Kelly. The show will air at 6:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Net Ohio.
CONFERENCE LEADERS: Through Oct. 20, Cincinnati ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in team and individual statistics in both overall and conference-only action:
OverallCategory Cincinnati Nevitt Elley Fesl Niemer Harpenau Brandl UptonHitting % 1st, .262 2nd, .400 3rd, .339 - - - - -Kills 2nd, 13.99 8th, 3.24 - - 7th, 3.49 - - -Assists 2nd, 12.55 - - 2nd, 10.9 - - - -Aces 2nd, 1.74 - - - - 5th, 0.37 10th, 0.33 -Blocks 2nd, 2.53 2nd, 1.24 - - - - - -Conference-OnlyCategory Cincinnati Nevitt Elley Fesl Niemer Harpenau Brandl UptonHitting % 2nd, .273 1st, .451 - - - - - -Kills 2nd, 14.00 7th, 3.62 - - 9th, 3.35 - - -Assists 3rd, 12.65 - - 3rd, 11.4 - - - -Aces 1st, 1.62 - - - - 1st, 0.58 - -Blocks 5th, 2.23 - - - - - - T-9th, 1.00
ABOUT MOREHEAD STATE: The Eagles enter Tuesday evening's match against the Bearcats with a 18-3 overall mark and a 9-1 Ohio Valley Conference record. Morehead State had won 10 consecutive matches before dropping a five-set contest at Austin Peay University on Saturday, Oct. 18. The Eagles own a 9-2 road mark this season with their only two losses coming at the hands of No. 22 Kentucky and Austin Peay. Ashley Doscher leads the squad averaging 3.30 kps. Statistically, Morehead State is one of the top all-around defensive teams in the country as it holds its opponents to a .139 hitting percentage, and the team averages 17.32 dps and 2.21 bps. The Eagles' 17.32 dps ranks ninth nationally.
THE SERIES WITH THE EAGLES: Tuesday's match between Cincinnati and Morehead State is the 21st meeting between the two programs with Cincinnati holding a 15-5 edge in the all-time series. Cincinnati is 9-2 when playing Morehead State in Clifton. The Eagles' last win against the Bearcats in Clifton came in three-sets on Oct. 14, 1997.