TicketsSept. 29, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio - Three University of Cincinnati volleyball players recorded double-doubles but it wasn't enough as Cincinnati fell to the University of Dayton, 3-1 (25-27, 27-29, 26-24, 21-25), Tuesday evening at the Frericks Center. Cincinnati fell to 10-7 on the season, while the Flyers improved to 12-2.
Dayton controlled the action early in the first set and jumped out to an 11-7 lead. Despite the early deficit on the road, UC regrouped and fought back to tie the set at 17. A quick three-point surge placed Dayton back in front, 20-17, but back-to-back Bearcats kills by sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) and freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) brought Cincinnati within one point, 22-21, forcing a Dayton timeout. A Bearcats attack error followed by a Chelsy Christoff service ace gave UD three set points to work with, but a four-point Bearcats run, which featured two junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) kills and a block by Niemer and Scott gave UC its first lead of the set, 25-24. Unfortunately for UC the lead was short lived as a UD kill coupled with consecutive service aces handed Dayton the 27-25 opening-set triumph.
Two freshman Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) kills of the block and a pair of Harpenau kills catapulted UC to an 8-3 advantage in the second set, forcing UD to burn a timeout. Dayton trimmed its deficit to one point at 13-12, but Harpenau and Scott combined to score UC's next five points giving the Bearcats a four-point cushion, 18-14. Dayton used a five-point run late in the set to take a 24-22 lead, but a kill by Turner and a block by Turner and Scott tied the set at 24. Three ties ensued, with the last at 27, before a Bearcats service error precluded an Amanda Cowdrey service ace as Dayton took the second set, 29-27.
Out of the intermission, UC fell behind 3-1, but Cincinnati captured nine of the next 11 points to take a 10-5 lead. UC maintained its five-point lead as late as 21-16, before Dayton made its run. The Flyers cut the deficit to two points, 23-21, forcing a Bearcat timeout. Out of the timeout, two Flyers blocks knotted the set at 23, forcing UC to use its second timeout in a matter of minutes. Another tied ensued at 24, before a strong kill by Turner through the seam followed by a Harpenau roll shot that hit the floor sealed the 26-24 UC win.
UC pulled out to the quick 4-1 lead in the fourth set, but a Dayton rally placed the Flyers in front, 9-7. A see-saw battled followed as Cincinnati and Dayton kept exchanging side outs until a Lindsay Fletemier kill and a block by Fletemier and Tiffany Gaerke placed UD in front, 21-18. Cincinnati and Dayton had some lengthy rallies down the stretch, but the ball did not go Cincinnati's way and the Flyers took the fourth set, 25-21.
Niemer led all players with 22 kills and added 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, while Harpenau finished with 16 kills and 16 digs in the losing effort. Senior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) corralled a match-best 18 digs.
Cincinnati returns home for the first time since Sept. 15 on Saturday, Oct. 3, when it hosts Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. in a match-up of BIG EAST unbeatens. The Bearcats round out their weekend with a 2 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 4, against West Virginia.