TicketsSept. 12, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Following a tough three-set loss to No. 14 on Friday, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team rebounded in a big way in its second match of the Illinois State Farm Classic with a three-set sweep over No. 16 Saint Louis Saturday afternoon at Huff Hall. Cincinnati (5-4) recorded its first win over a ranked opponent since Oct. 10, 2003, when it defeated No. 17 Louisville in three sets. The win over the No. 16 Billikens also is the highest-ranked opponent that UC has defeated in program history.
Junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) led all players with 14 kills and four service aces, while sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) added nine kills and 11 digs. Senior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) put together one of her best performances on the young season with a match-high 19 digs.
The Bearcats got off to a great start in the opening set as a pair of kills by Niemer and freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) put UC in front, 7-3. Despite a Saint Louis run that tied the set at 14, a sophomore Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) kill, a SLU attack error, a block from Scott and Fesl, and a Niemer kill widened the lead back to four points, 18-14. Leading 24-20, UC had four set points at their disposal, but a four-point Billikens run halted the momentum and tied the set at 24. After an exchange of side outs kept the score knotted at 25, a Hayden kill followed by a Sammi McCloud attack error gave Cincinnati a 27-25 opening-set win.
A strong offensive attack continued in the second set as three kills by Hayden helped UC take a 10-6 lead. Saint Louis overcame the deficit and took its first lead of the set, 15-14, on a Whitney Roth kill. SLU held on to its one-point lead as late as 23-22, before a kill by Niemer, a kill by Harpenau, and a Niemer service ace, which clipped the sideline, gave the Bearcats a 25-23 come-from-behind win, giving Cincinnati a two sets to none lead heading into intermission.
Out of the intermission, UC continued to put the pressure on SLU. Tied at five, a six-point run behind Niemer's serving, which included back-to-back service aces, widened the Bearcats lead to six, 11-5, forcing a Saint Louis timeout. The Billikens closed the gap to two points, 16-14, but consecutive Saint Louis errors and Niemer's third ace of the set helped lengthen Cincinnati's lead back to five points, 20-15. A kill by Fesl, a kill by freshman Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland), and a kill by Harpenau sealed the 25-17 win.
The win for UC over the Billikens marked the first time this season that Saint Louis has lost to a team that had not been ranked. Saint Louis' other losses have come to No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Texas, and No. 4 Hawai'i.
The Bearcats wrap up tournament play at 5:30 p.m. ET against Illinois State (4-5).