TicketsSept. 4, 2009
CINCINNATI - Playing at home for the first time this season, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team defeated the Youngstown State University Penguins 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-12) in its opener of the 2009 Bearcats Invitational presented by the Marriott Kingsgate. Junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) led Cincinnati with 14 kills, while the freshmen duo of Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) both hit above .600 and recorded double-digit kills in their first appearance in front of the home crowd.
Cincinnati (2-2) hit .411 for the match thanks in part to a .483 hitting percentage in the second set and a .516 hitting percentage in the third set.
In the opening set, both teams got off to a sluggish start, but a pair of Scott kills coupled with a Youngstown State ball handling error placed the Bearcats in front, 16-13, forcing a Penguins timeout. After YSU tied the set at 16, a Penguin service error and two attack errors combined with a senior Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) service ace pushed Cincinnati to a 20-16 lead. Holding on to a two-point lead, 24-22, a kill by Niemer bounced off the YSU block into the antenna, giving UC the 25-22 opening-set triumph. Scott and Hayden combined to record eight kills and hit .636 in set one.
UC attacked the seam with success early in the second set as back-to-back kills by Hayden, sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), and Niemer to the corner planted UC in front, 5-2, forcing YSU to burn a timeout early. Despite the early lead, UC kept the pressure on as strong serving forced the Penguins out of system allowing Cincinnati to eventually take a 19-12 lead. Two kills by Niemer, three kills by Harpenau, and a Penguin attack error gave UC a 25-12 second-set victory, putting the Bearcats in front two games to none heading into the 10-minute intermission.
The Bearcats carried the momentum from the second set into the third and used the serving of freshman Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) and junior Julie Guenther (Fairfield, Ohio/Hamilton Badin) to take a commanding 10-4 advantage. In front by eight points, 17-9, a six-point rally behind Refenes' serve and a kill by Harpenau meshed with a YSU attack error gave UC a 25-12 third-set win.
UC concludes Day 2 of the 2009 Bearcats Invitational presented by the Marriott Kingsgate on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Bearcats play Evansville at 12:30 p.m., before meeting the College of Charleston at 7:30 p.m. All four of Saturday's matches will be played at Fifth Third Arena.