TicketsSept. 18, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. - Behind a defense that held Long Island University to a .011 hitting percentage, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-11) win over the Blackbirds in its opener of the 28th Wildcat Classic Friday afternoon.
Cincinnati got off to a slow start hitting just .269 in the first set, but UC steadily improved with a .286 clip in the second set and a .406 mark in the third set.
UC fell behind early, 8-5, but kills from juniors Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) and Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry), a Bearcat block, and a Blackbirds attack error gave Cincinnati its first lead of the set, 9-8. In front 12-11, two blocks and two kills from freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) aided a five-point Bearcats rally that opened up a 17-11 cushion. In front by four points, 21-17, a Fesl kill, a kill apiece from freshmen Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland), and a UC block sealed the deal on a 25-17 opening set triumph.
The serving of sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) led a seven-point Bearcats rally out of the gates in the second set. Despite the early advantage, UC kept the pressure on as a kill and a block by Harpenau followed by a Niemer service ace widened the margin to 11 points, 15-4. Even with four consecutive errors late in the set, the early lead paid a dividend as Cincinnati proceeded to take the second set, 25-14.
The third set remained tight early until the Bearcats reeled off 10 straight points to take a 15-4 lead. During the spurt, Niemer and Refenes put down two kills apiece and senior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) recorded her first service ace of the evening. Down the stretch, Cincinnati went to Niemer and she delivered three kills, giving the Bearcats the 25-11 victory.
Niemer led all players with 11 kills, while Refenes added a season-best 10 kills. Frey and Harpenau anchored the back-row defense with 13 digs and 11 digs, respectively.
Cincinnati continues the Wildcat Classic on Saturday, Sept. 19, when UC takes on Akron and Northwestern at 11 a.m. EDT and 8 p.m. EDT, respectively.