TicketsOct. 10, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - In a match featuring the lone remaining undefeated teams in the BIG EAST Conference, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team fought back from a two sets to none deficit to send the match to a fifth and deciding set, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prevailed 15-10 in the final set Saturday afternoon. The Irish were led by Christina Kaelin's 20 kills as they improved to 10-4 overall and 4-0 in the BIG EAST, while UC (12-8; 3-1 BIG EAST) was led by junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) and freshman Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption), who tallied 19 kills and 18 kills respectively.
UC got off to a slow start in the opening set as a Bearcats attack error followed by back-to-back Irish blocks placed Notre Dame in front, 9-5. An exchange of side outs kept the deficit at four before kills by Kaelin and Serenity Phillips pushed the Irish lead to six points, 15-9, heading into the media timeout. Out of the timeout, UC cut the lead to three points on a kill by freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and two kills by Hayden, but a Cincinnati attack error followed by an Irish ace later in the set extended the Irish lead back to five, 19-14, forcing a Bearcats timeout. Still trailing by five, 21-16, Niemer helped score the next six UC points on five kills and a block assist, bringing Cincinnati within two points, 24-22. From there, a Bearcats attack error allowed the Irish to capture the first set, 25-22. Niemer led UC with nine kills in the opening set.
UC held the lead early in the second set but Notre Dame slowly pulled away to a four-point lead, 14-10. After cutting the lead to two points, 18-16, consecutive Scott kills tied the set at 18. However, a Kristen Dealy kill followed by four consecutive points behind her serving widened the Irish lead to 23-18 and Notre Dame went on to take the second set, 25-19.
Cincinnati came out of the 10-minute intermission with more energy and it showed throughout the rest of the match. Trailing 10-8, UC knotted the game at 12, before three Hayden kills helped Cincinnati capture a two-point lead of its own, 16-14. Back-to-back Scott kills later in the set expanded the Bearcats lead to five points, 21-16, and the five-point lead held as Cincinnati took the third set 25-20.
The fourth set remained tight throughout as the Irish held the lead at the beginning of the set before a big Hayden kill precluded by a block from Hayden and junior Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) put UC in front, 21-19. Ties ensued at 22 and 23, before a big Bearcats block by Scott and a Notre Dame miscue gave UC the 25-23 fourth-set win, sending the match to a fifth and final set.
In the fifth set, UC fell behind 5-1, before scoring seven of the next nine points to take an 8-7 lead as the teams switched sides. Three ties ensued, with the last at 10, before Jamel Nicholas' three service aces helped Notre Dame take the final set, 15-10.
Hayden's 18 kills marked a new career high, while Scott and sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) added 10 kills apiece. Harpenau also posted a career-high 21 kills for her 10th double-double of the season. Junior Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) led all players with 55 assists.
The Bearcats continue their road trip on Sunday, Oct. 11, when UC takes on DePaul at 3 p.m. EDT in Chicago.