TicketsNov. 19, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - At the annual BIG EAST Volleyball banquet, University of Cincinnati juniors Annie Fesl and Stephanie Niemer and sophomore Missy Harpenau were selected as all-conference performers, the conference announced Thursday evening. Niemer and Fesl were first-team all-BIG EAST selections, while Harpenau was a second-team selection.
Niemer was a unanimous first-team selection and is now a three-time all-conference selection after earning first-team distinction last season and second-team honors in 2007. The Erlanger, Ky., native ranks second in the conference in aces (0.43 sa/s), third in the conference in kills per set (4.20 kps), and third in points per set (4.89). In conference-only play, Niemer finished the season ranking first in aces (0.49 sa/s), ninth in points (4.22), and 10th in kills (3.47 kps).
Fesl joined Niemer on the first team, marking the second year in a row that UC has had two representatives earn first-team all-conference honors. Fesl leads the conference in assists in overall matches, dishing out 11.36 assists per set, which also ranks 15th nationally. In conference-only play, Fesl ranked fourth in assists (10.96 aps) and seventh in aces (0.36 sa/s). Recently, Fesl became the third player in UC history to eclipse 4,000 career assists with 30 assists in a three-set win over Connecticut.
For the first time in her career, Harpenau earned all-conference distinction after being named to the second team. Harpenau leads the Bearcats with 12 kill-dig double-doubles and leads the squad in digs, while ranking second on the team in kills. For the season, Harpenau is averaging 2.86 kps and 3.16 dps, while ranking third in the conference in service aces per set (0.40).
Cincinnati begins the BIG EAST Volleyball Championships on Friday, Nov. 20, at 12:30 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Ky. UC takes on Connecticut in the opening round and the winner of the match advances to the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 21, to play the winner of the Pittsburgh/USF match.
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Meagan Dooley, Sr., Pittsburgh
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Debbie Brown, Notre Dame
BIG EAST Libero of the Year
Michelle Rossi, Sr., Pittsburgh
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Lola Arslanbekova, Fr., Louisville
2009 First-Team All-BIG EAST Selections
Alli Arbogast, Sr., USF
Lola Arslanbekova, Fr., Louisville
Lecia Brown, Sr., Louisville
*Meagan Dooley, Sr., Pittsburgh
Annie Fesl, Jr., Cincinnati
*Marcela Gurgel, Sr., USF
Christina Kaelin, Sr., Notre Dame
Sarah Morton, Sr., Syracuse
Jamel Nicholas, Sr., Notre Dame
*Stephanie Niemer, Jr., Cincinnati
Serenity Phillips, Sr., Notre Dame
Michelle Rossi, Sr., Pittsburgh
*denotes unanimous selection
Second-Team All-BIG EAST Selections
Ashley Beyer, So., Marquette
Allie Boaz, Jr., USF
Vanessa Dorismond, Jr., Georgetown
Lauren Evans, Jr., West Virginia
Missy Harpenau, So., Cincinnati
Nikki Klingsporn, Jr., Marquette
Kim Maroon, So., Villanova
Allie Matters, Sr., Seton Hall
Maggie Mergen, So., Villanova
Rebecca Murray, Jr., Connecticut
Kellie Sciacca, Jr., Notre Dame
Amy Town, Jr., Pittsburgh