TicketsNov. 9, 2008
PITTSBURGH - The University of Cincinnati's volleyball team continued its winning ways with a three-set sweep over the University of Pittsburgh (25-12, 25-23, 25-20) Sunday afternoon at Fitzgerald Field House. Cincinnati (24-5; 11-2 BIG EAST) hit at a .309 clip for the match, while holding Pittsburgh (15-12; 7-5 BIG EAST) to a .115 hitting percentage.
Two kills by senior Jessica Elley (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert), two kills and a pair of service aces by sophomore Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry), and a Bearcat block put Cincinnati up 10-3 early in the first set. After widening its margin to nine points, 17-8, a kill by freshman Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), a kill by Elley, and a block by Harpenau and senior Jessie Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) extended the Bearcat lead to 20-8. From that point, Cincinnati took the opening set, 25-12.
The second set remained tight throughout until a Pittsburgh block and a Cincinnati attack error put the Panthers in front, 18-16. After a kill by Harpenau and two kills by Elley placed UC in front, 19-18, Pitt rallied off three consecuitve points to re-establish a 21-19 advantage. Trailing by three points, 23-20, a kill off the block by Nevitt, a kill through the seam by Harpenau, and a block from Nevitt and sophomore Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) tied the set at 23-23, forcing a Pittsburgh timeout. A Panther attack error followed by another block from Fesl and Nevitt sealed a 25-23 second-set triumph.
Trailing 8-3 in the third set, a kill by senior Lindsey Peterson (Arlington, Texas/Lamar) ignited a furious Bearcat rally. After the Peterson kill and a UC service error, the Bearcats rallied off six straight points, highlighted by four sophomore Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) kills, to jump on top, 11-9. Several ties ensued, with the last at 17-17, before a Peterson kill followed by an Elley kill through the seam placed Cincinnati in front, 19-17, forcing a Panther timeout. With its two-point lead still intact, 22-20, a kill by Nevitt, a block by Nevitt and Fesl, and a kill by Fesl gave UC a 25-20 third-set triumph.
Nevitt and Elley led the way with 10 kills apiece and the duo each hit .400 for the match.
Cincinnati concludes its conference slate at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, in Fifth Third Arena versus Rutgers. Sunday's match versus Rutgers also marks senior day as five seniors will suit up for the final time in Fifth Third Arena. Cincinnati's five seniors are Natalie Dossman (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard), Elley, Nevitt, Peterson, and Jami Torok (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley).