TicketsDec. 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After helping the University of Cincinnati volleyball team advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, junior Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) and sophomore Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region honors, the association announced today.
Niemer was one of 14 players selected to the All-Northeast Region team, while Harpenau was one of six players to earn honorable mention Northeast Region honors.
Niemer led the Bearcats in kills this season with 541, the sixth-highest single-season kills total in program history. Additionally, Niemer's 4.19 kills per set average ranked ninth on the single-season kills per set chart. For her play throughout the season, Niemer was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection for the second season in a row and earned all-tournament accolades after helping UC reach the BIG EAST Championship match for the first time since joining the conference in 2005.
Harpenau had a terrific all-around season and greatly improved her numbers from her freshman to sophomore campaigns. After finishing with 272 kills (2.23 kps), 301 digs (2.47 dps), and 41 aces a season ago, Harpenau finished the 2009 campaign with 375 kills (2.91 kps), 408 digs (3.16 dps), and 54 aces. Harpenau's 3.16 dps and 54 aces were tops on the squad, while her 2.91 kps average ranked second. The Cincinnati native was a second-team all-BIG EAST honoree.
The Bearcats finished the 2009 season with a 25-11 overall record and a 12-2 BIG EAST mark. The 25 wins marked the ninth time that UC has reached the 20-win plateau under the direction of head coach Reed Sunahara. Cincinnati carries its 28-match home winning streak, the second-longest home winning streak in the country, into the 2010 season.
Below are the 2009 AVCA All-Northeast Region Selections:
AVCA All-Northeast Region
Name School Pos. Yr.
Lola Arslenbekova University of Louisville OH Fr.
Lecia Brown University of Louisville MB Sr.
Megan Dooley University of Pittsburgh MB Sr.
Lindsey Fletemeir University of Dayton MB Sr.
Bridget Fonke Saint Louis University OH Sr.
Marcela Gurgel University of South Florida OH Sr.
Christina Kaelin University of Notre Dame OH Jr.
Kim Maroon Villanova University DS/L Sr.
Sammi McCloud Saint Louis University RS Sr.
Stephanie Neimer University of Cincinnati OH Jr.
Jamel Nicholas University of Notre Dame S Sr.
Serinity Phillips University of Notre Dame RS Sr.
Whitney Roth Saint Louis University S Sr.
Yi Yun Zhang Temple University OH Sr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Lola Arslenbekova (Louisville, Outside Hitter)
Honorable Mention: Allie Arbogast (South Florida, MB, Sr.), Cat Dailey
(Yale, OH, Sr.), Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati , OH, So.), Michelle Rossi
(Pittsburgh, DS/Lib., Sr.), Kellie Sciacca (Notre Dame, MB, Jr.), Megan
Tryon (Pennsylvania, S, Jr.)