TicketsNov. 1, 2009
CINCINNATI - For the fourth time in the last six matches, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team hit over .300 as a team as the Bearcats defeated Syracuse University 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-8) Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. Freshman Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) posted a career-high 13 kills helping UC (19-8; 9-1 BIG EAST) extend its home winning streak to 25 matches.
Cincinnati outplayed the Orange in almost every statistical category posting 23 more kills, nine more aces and 22 more digs than Syracuse en route to the win. Junior Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) continued her strong play with 48 assists and 15 digs, while leading the squad to a .341 hitting percentage.
A balanced offensive attack that featured kills from three different players helped Cincinnati jump out to a 7-2 lead over Syracuse. The Orange slowly crept back into the set and used a Bearcats attack error to take their first lead of the set, 17-16. Leading by one point, 21-20, a Syracuse kill followed by two UC miscues pushed its lead to four points, 24-20, a lead it would not relinquish as the Orange captured the opening set, 25-21.
The Bearcats continued to struggle in the beginning of the second set until sophomore Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) provided a spark off the bench. Trailing 7-5, Upton led a nine-point charge, which included three straight service aces, catapulting Cincinnati in front, 14-7. With its seven-point lead still intact, 20-13, a trio of Syracuse attack errors coupled with kills by junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) and freshman Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) closed out a 25-13 second-set win for UC.
The third set was a see-saw battle in the beginning until another long service run for the Bearcats opened a big lead. A kill by Niemer tied the set at nine, resulting in a side out for UC that moved Niemer back to the service line. Niemer led a nine-point run, which also included three service aces, placing UC in front, 18-9. A kill by Hayden and a Syracuse attack error gave Cincinnati its biggest lead of the set, 22-12, and the Bearcats cruised to a 25-18 third-set triumph.
The Bearcats used kills by freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), Niemer, and Refenes to jump on top, 6-2, in the fourth set and UC never looked back. Cincinnati had three runs of four points or more in the final frame to take the 25-8 fourth-set win.
Upton finished with a career-high four aces and added three digs off the bench for UC, while Niemer, sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), and Scott all chipped in with 11 kills apiece. Harpenau also collected 14 digs for her 12th kill-dig double-double of the season.
Cincinnati hits the road for its final conference road trip of the regular season next weekend when it travels to Georgetown and USF. The Bearcats play at Georgetown on Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m., before heading down to Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, Nov. 8, to play USF at 2 p.m.