TicketsAug. 14, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - One year after capturing a share of the BIG EAST Conference regular-season championship, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team was picked to finish in a tie for second place in the 2009 BIG EAST Coaches' Preseason Poll, joining the University of Notre Dame with 178 votes. The University of Louisville was chosen as the preseason favorite with a 186 votes and the Cardinals earned six of 15 first place votes.
This is the second consecutive year that Louisville has been chosen as the preseason favorite.
Cincinnati and Notre Dame each received 178 votes to tie for second place, with Notre Dame garnering five first-place votes compared to four for UC. Last season, Cincinnati was picked third in the 2008 preseason poll.
USF's Marcela Gurgel was chosen as the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, while 11 athletes from seven other conference institutions joined Gurgel to comprise the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Cincinnati junior outside hitter Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) and junior setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) represented the Bearcats on the all-preseason team. Niemer, who was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection last season, was one of four players to be unanimously selected to the all-preseason team, joining Gurgel, and Louisville's Lecia Brown and Justine Landi. Fesl was a second-team all-BIG EAST recipient in 2008.
USF followed UC and Notre Dame in fourth place, and the Bulls were followed by St. John's (144 votes), Marquette (119 votes), Connecticut (118 votes), and Pittsburgh (107). Syracuse was chosen ninth overall, ahead of Villanova, Georgetown, Seton Hall, DePaul, Rutgers, and West Virginia.
Cincinnati begins its 2009 season on Friday, August 28 at the Utah Classic versus University of California-Riverside in Salt Lake City. Following the completion of the Utah Classic, UC hosts the Bearcats Invitational Sept. 4-5 at Fifth Third Arena.
Volleyball season tickets are available to adults for $20, and to youth, seniors, and UCATS members for $10. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX.