Volleyball Completes Miracle Comeback in Five-Set Win over Syracuse

Volleyball Completes Miracle Comeback in Five-Set Win over SyracuseVolleyball Completes Miracle Comeback in Five-Set Win over Syracuse

Oct. 24, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The University of Cincinnati's volleyball team completed an improbable comeback Friday evening in Syracuse, N.Y., as the Bearcats extended their winning streak to nine matches with a come-from-behind five-set victory over the Orange. Cincinnati (19-5; 6-2 BIG EAST) trailed by scores of 8-1 and 13-7 in the final set, before the Bearcats defeated Syracuse (14-10; 5-2 BIG EAST) 16-14 behind the serving of sophomores Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) and Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry). Senior Jessica Elley (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert) carried the red and black with a career-high tying 24 kills, while senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) had six total blocks, including five block assists, tying her with Stephanie Meinig (1997-00) for the school's total blocks record and sending her into first place on the UC career block assists chart.

Cincinnati got off to a rocky start in the opening stanza as the serving of Syracuse's Marissa Kanemura and April Quigley helped the Orange jump on top, 13-7. Trailing by four points, 17-13, two kills by Nevitt, a kill by Niemer, and an Orange attack error tied the set at 17-17. However, the Bearcats could not capture the lead and Syracuse used four kills and four Bearcat miscues to capture the first set, 25-21.

Trailing one set to none, Cincinnati and Syracuse battled throughout for the all-important second set. Neither team obtained a lead of more than two points until a kill by freshman Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) sandwiched between two Elley Kills catapulted the Bearcats in front, 13-10. Later in the set, with the Bearcats in front by two points, 19-17, April Quigley stepped behind the line for Syracuse and served five straight points as the Orange took their biggest lead of the set, 22-19. Cincinnati tied the set four more times, with the last being at 25-25, before a Nevitt smash and a Syracuse attack error gave Cincinnati a hard-fought 27-25 set-two triumph.

In the opening stages of the third set, a Syracuse attack error followed by a Niemer service ace and two Elley kills got Cincinnati off to a 4-0 lead. The Orange crawled back within one point, 12-11, before another Syracuse miscue put Niemer at the service line. Niemer led a five-point surge that put Cincinnati in a commanding 18-11 position. A kill by Elley stamped shut a 25-17 third-set win, sending the match to a fourth set.

For the second set in a row, Niemer served the Bearcats into a four-point lead, 4-0. Despite the Orange closing within one point on four occasions, the Bearcats maintained their four-point cushion as late as 18-14. Syracuse quickly tied the set at 18-18, before both teams combined to record 12 consecutive side outs en route to a 24-24 score. Consecutive Bearcat miscues handed Syracuse a 26-24 set-four victory, sending Cincinnati to its third fifth-set of the season.

Things did not look good for the Bearcats in the final set as the teams switched sides with the Orange owning an 8-1 lead. Still trailing by eight points, 11-3, a cross-court kill by senior Lindsey Peterson (Arlington, Texas/Lamar) instilled life in the team as Cincinnati took eight of the next 10 points to close the gap to 13-11. A Syracuse kill gave the Orange three match points to work with, but Niemer began another impressive service run just as she had several times earlier in the match. A kill by Elley, a block by sophomore Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and Elley, followed by Niemer's fifth service ace of the match tied the set at 14-14. An Orange ball handling error followed by an attack error gave Cincinnati an improbable 16-14 come-from-behind win and extended its winning streak to nine matches.

Elley led the way with a career-high tying 24 kills en route to a .396 hitting percentage. Harpenau and Niemer both recorded kill-dig double-doubles as Harpenau registered 14 kills and 15 digs and Niemer recorded 11 kills and a career-high 16 digs. Niemer also added a season-high five service aces. Fesl notched her fourth double-double of the season with 53 assists and 16 digs. Junior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) and sophomore Julie Guenther (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) had 16 digs apiece, which was a career-high for Guenther.

Cincinnati takes its nine-match winning streak to Milwaukee, Wis., when the Bearcats and Marquette Golden Eagles meet at 3 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Oct. 26.