TicketsNov. 28, 2009
CINCINNATI - Behind sophomore Missy Harpenau's (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) 15th kill-dig double-double of the season, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team completed another perfect home campaign with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-15) win over local rival Miami University Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (25-10) finished the season 12-0 at home, backing up an unblemished 14-0 record at home last season. UC's home winning streak now stands at 28 matches, marking the second longest home winning streak in the country.
Harpenau collected 14 kills and hit .462 on the evening while adding 11 digs. The Cincinnati native also posted two assists, two aces, and three blocks.
In the opening set, Cincinnati and Miami (OH) exchanged side outs until a junior Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) service ace followed by two Miami errors helped the Bearcats take a 10-7 lead. A Harpenau kill widened the UC lead to five points, 14-9, before the RedHawks began their comeback. Miami slowly crawled back and eventually knotted the set at 22, before a kill by Harpenau gave Cincinnati a 23-22 advantage. A RedHawks attack error followed and a long rally ensued on the next point before junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) ended the rally with a kill, giving the Bearcats a 25-22 opening set win.
Coming off the close victory in the opening set, a Niemer kill started a six-point run that pushed Cincinnati on top, 11-5. Miami (OH) came right back and captured six of the next seven points to close within one point, 13-12, but kills by Harpenau and freshman Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) helped UC open a 20-16 lead. Down the stretch, two kills by freshman Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and Harpenau closed out the 25-19 triumph.
After the 10-minute intermission, the score was tied at 10, before a five-point run, which was paced by two Niemer kills, expanded the lead to 15-10. Leading 19-14, freshman Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) served out a six-point rally giving Cincinnati a 25-15 win.
The Bearcats wait to find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, Nov. 28, when the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Selection Show airs on ESPNU at 3 p.m. EST.