No. 25 UC Volleyball Wins Sixth Straight Knocking Off Rutgers, 3-0

Sept. 26, 2010

Box Score
Postgame Comments from Coach Sunahara

CINCINNATI - The No. 25-ranked University of Cincinnati volleyball team won its sixth consecutive match on Sunday, Sept. 26, knocking off Rutgers, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-16), in Fifth Third Arena to complete a BIG EAST Conference opening weekend sweep. The Bearcats received balanced play as Stephanie Niemer, Jordanne Scott and Becca Refenes each posted nine or more kills.

After the two teams started off by trading points at 3-3, the Bearcats settled in and scored the next eight points to take an 11-3 advantage over Rutgers. From there the Bearcats finished the set hitting .297 and Niemer knocked down a set-high seven kills and made five digs to lead UC to the 25-14 win in the opening set. Senior setter Annie Fesl also added 14 assists for UC.

In the second set, Rutgers came out hitting the ball better at .171 and kept within striking distance throughout. The balance of the set seemed changed following a UC timeout at 12-11 as the Bearcats scored the next three points to claim a 15-11 lead, a margin it maintained for the rest of the set. The Bearcats continued their strong hitting in the second with a .296 percentage and won the set, 25-20.

The Bearcats put the match away in the third set, 25-16, using strong hitting and Scarlet Knight errors. Despite hitting a match-high .250 vs. Cincinnati in the set, Rutgers committed five service errors that allowed UC to roll to its second conference win of the season. Cincinnati also hit a match-best .323 behind a five-kill third set by sophomore Jordanne Scott. Freshman libero Emily MacIntyre, who finished with a match-high 14 digs, added five in the set.

UC out hit Rutgers .305 to .173 in the match and out blocked the Knights 11-6. Niemer and Refenes both cracked double digit blocks in the match with 13 and 10, respectively. Senior setter Annie Fesl recorded a match-high 35 assists.

Cincinnati is off until Friday when it travels to the northeast for a weekend of action at St. John's on Oct. 1 and Connecticut on Sunday, Oct. 3.