TicketsSept. 8, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team jumped out on the No. 17 University of Kentucky Wildcats two sets to none, but Kentucky rallied to take the final three sets to earn the come-from-behind five-set victory Tuesday evening at Memorial Coliseum. The loss marked the second time this season that Cincinnati (4-3) has fallen to a ranked opponent in five sets with the other loss coming at No. 17 Utah on Aug. 29.
Junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) posted a match-high tying 22 kills and a career-high 16 digs, while sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) also added a double-double with 10 kills and a career-high 20 digs for UC.
In her return to her home state for the first time since becoming a Bearcat, freshman Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) paced UC early recording five kills as the Bearcats jumped out to an 18-15 lead. After Kentucky cut its deficit to one point 19-18, a kill by Niemer, a block by freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and Niemer, and another Niemer kill gave Cincinnati its biggest lead of the set, 22-18. After two exchanges of side outs, UC's lone senior, Jaime Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) came up with a service ace to secure the 25-21 opening-set win.
After falling behind early in the second set, the UC block came alive forcing Kentucky to burn a timeout. Trailing 11-9, Niemer and Scott teamed up for two blocks, while Scott and Hayden combined for another block, as Cincinnati took six of the next seven points to take a 15-12 advantage. Out of the timeout, three consecutive kills by UK's Sarah Mendoza followed by a Bearcats attack error placed Kentucky back in front, 16-15, forcing the Bearcats to use their first timeout of the set. Eight ties ensued from that point, until a UK service error followed by a Wildcats attack error cemented a hard-fought 29-27 second-set win for the Red and Black.
The third set remained tight throughout as neither team took command until a UC error followed by a Kentucky service ace and block placed the Wildcats in front, 23-20. Back-to-back kills by Niemer brought Cincinnati within one point, 23-22, but after an exchange of side outs made the score 24-23, a UK block gave the Wildcats a 25-23 third-set triumph, sending the match to a fourth set.
Sloppy play by UC early in the second set forced the Bearcats to use both of their timeouts as they found themselves in an 11-3 hole. Cincinnati fell behind by as many as nine points, 18-9, before UC collected itself and made a run to close within five points, 19-14, forcing the Wildcats to use their first timeout of the set. The run continued as the Bearcats fought all the way back within two points, 24-22, but a Mendoza kill gave UK a 25-22 win, sending the match to a fifth and final set.
The Bearcats fell behind 7-3 in the fifth set, but a Kentucky service error sandwiched between a Niemer kill and service ace brought UC within one point, 7-6. However, the Bearcats could not overtake the lead as great transition offense helped the Wildcats earn the 15-9 fifth-set win.
Additionally, Scott finished with 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks for UC, while Hayden also finished with 10 kills.
Mendoza led UK with 22 kills and 15 digs, while BriAnne Sauer collected a match-best 25 digs.
Cincinnati continues its travels Sept. 11-12 at the Illinois State Farm Classic, where the Bearcats face No. 14 Illinois, No. 16 Saint Louis, and Illinois State. UC opens the tournament against the Fighting Illini at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 11 in a re-match of the second-round NCAA Tournament match between the schools in 2008. Cincinnati then takes on the Saint Louis and Illinois State at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EDT, respectively, on Saturday, Sept. 12.