TicketsAug. 17, 2009
This is the first of four installments previewing the 2009 University of Cincinnati volleyball season. UC kicks off its regular season at the Utah Classic Aug. 28-29 in Salt Lake City, before welcoming Youngstown State, Evansville, and the College of Charleston to Fifth Third Arena for the Bearcats Invitational Sept. 4-5.
Two matches into the 2008 conference season, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team owned a 10-5 overall record and a 0-2 conference mark after dropping matches to preseason conference favorite St. John's and Connecticut. Needing to focus on one match at a time, the Bearcats reeled off 15 straight wins, including 12consecutive BIG EAST Conference matches, and won 17 of their last 19 matches to capture a share of the program's first BIG EAST regular-season championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history. Despite the 27-7 record, five senior leaders departed giving six returning letterwinners and five newcomers the opportunity to continue the tradition and success of Cincinnati volleyball.
In recent years, Cincinnati has relied heavily upon its middle hitters to deliver in crunch time, but with the departure of three-time AVCA All-American and four-time first-team all-conference performer Jessie Nevitt, the strength of this season's team shifts from the middle of the floor to the antennas.
Tenth-year head coach and 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Reed Sunahara welcomes back two all-conference performers from 2008, including first-team all-BIG EAST selection Stephanie Niemer. Niemer is a two-time all-league performer at the outside hitter position who will be a go-to option on the outside for the Bearcats. After leading UC in the NCAA Tournament with 4.25 kills per set and a .306 hitting percentage, the junior is poised to take her game to another level and help the Bearcats win another conference championship and return to the NCAA Tournament.
Joining Niemer on the outside is sophomore Missy Harpenau, who put her all-around game on display last season. As a freshman, Harpenau averaged 2.23 kps, 2.47 dps, and 0.6 bps, while also tying Niemer for the team lead in service aces with 41. Harpenau's game saw tremendous improvement throughout the season as evidenced by her 2.25 kps, 2.25 dps, and 0.6 bps in the NCAA Tournament.
With two experienced returnees at the outside positions, Sunahara added freshman Emily Hayden to the roster giving the squad a versatile athlete that can play both the middle and outside hitter positions. A Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association first-team all-state selection in 2008, Hayden helped Assumption High School to three state titles and a national championship in 2005.
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.