TicketsOct. 23, 2008
ROAD TRAVELS: Cincinnati hits the road for a pair of crucial BIG EAST matches this weekend. First, the Bearcats travel to Syracuse, N.Y., to face the Orange at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24. Two days later, the Bearcats move on to Milwaukee, Wis., to meet the Marquette Golden Eagles at 3 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Oct. 26. Syracuse currently sits at 5-1 in the BIG EAST, while Marquette owns a 2-4 conference mark.
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 career-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 two block assists and six total blocks to move into first place past Stephanie Meinig (1997-2000) on both career charts.
SUNAHARA CLOSES IN ON 200th WIN AT UC: Heading into this weekend's BIG EAST matches at Syracuse and Marquette, head coach Reed Sunahara needs just two more wins to reach 200 wins at the helm of the Cincinnati program. Sunahara earned his 200th career victory in the Bearcats' opening match of the season against Wright State. Sunahara owns a career record of 217-120 and a 198-80 record at Cincinnati.
FIFTH TO THIRD: With 13 digs in a four-set match over Louisville, junior Jaime Frey moved into third place on Cincinnati's all-time digs chart. Frey entered the match in fifth place and needed four digs to pass Barb Mannix (1988-90) for fourth place and seven digs to pass Becky Tenkman (1995-98) for third place. Frey currently owns 1,316 career digs and needs 35 more digs to move past Julie DuPont (2001-04) into sole possession of second place.
SETTING THE TONE: Sophomore setter Annie Fesl has been a consistent force for the Bearcats this season as the team enters this weekend looking to surpass its win total from last season. This past weekend against Louisville, Fesl recorded a season-high 59 assists and added 10 digs, giving her three double-doubles on the season. Fesl ranks 24th nationally in assists, dishing out an average of 10.99 assists per set.
ABOUT SYRACUSE: The Orange enter Friday's match against Cincinnati with a 14-9 overall record and a 5-1 BIG EAST record. Syracuse sits in a tie for second place in the conference, and the team is led offensively and defensively by Sarah Morton. Morton leads the team in kills (2.95 kps), hitting percentage (.408), and blocks (1.26). The Orange have won five consecutive matches.
THE SERIES WITH THE ORANGE: Cincinnati owns a 3-2 edge in the all-time series, including a three-set sweep in Fifth Third Arena last season. The Bearcats are 1-1 when traveling to Syracuse, with the lone win coming in four sets on Sept. 24, 2006.
ABOUT MARQUETTE: Marquette hosts Louisville on Friday, Oct. 24, before welcoming Cincinnati at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26. The Golden Eagles are 8-11 overall and 2-4 in BIG EAST action. Ashlee Fisher leads the squad averaging 3.97 kills per set , while on the opposite side of the net, Tiara Russell averages a team-best 1.14 blocks per set.
THE SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Cincinnati owns a 24-6 advantage in the all-time series against Marquette. However, the Golden Eagles have won two of the last three meetings, including a five-set victory over the Bearcats the last time the two schools met in Milwaukee in 2006.