TicketsOct. 10, 2010
CINCINNATI - The No. 21-ranked University of Cincinnati volleyball team established a new school record for consecutive sets won at 27, knocking off Notre Dame, who was second in the BIG EAST Conference Standings, 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-19), in Fifth Third Arena on Sunday (Oct.10). Senior outside hitter Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) continued her all-America type season leading UC with 20 kills, four digs and a .633 hitting percentage.
With the UC trailing early in the opening set, 4-3, Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) started a Bearcats rally with her kill to even the set followed by a Notre Dame error that put UC back on top. From there sophomore middle blocker Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) put Cincinnati in control with three straight service aces, giving the Bearcats a 8-4 advantage. Cincinnati maintained that lead until it posted five of the last six points en route to a 25-17 decision in the opening set. Freshman libero Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) added seven digs. UC out hit Notre Dame .265-.139.
In the second set, play again stayed tight until midway through the set. With Cincinnati up 13-11, the Bearcats scored 12 of the last 16 points of the stanza for a 25-17 win and walked into the 10-minute intermission up, 2-0.Niemer, who had a set-high nine kills posted four of them in the final stretch. Refenes continued her outstanding overall play with four kills and three digs in the set, while senior setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) had 19 of her match-high 42 assists. As a team, UC hit .667. in the second.
Cincinnati put the match away early in the third, rallying from a 5-4 deficit to take a 13-6 lead. Niemer reeled off three kills and a block during the stretch, while Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) posted two kills and a block. Notre Dame cut the lead to 22-19, but UC scored the last three points for the win.
UC controlled the hitting in the match with a .424 percentage, its second highest mark of the year after hitting .459 vs. DePaul on Friday.
The Bearcats (17-3, 6-0 BIG EAST) have won 10 straight matches and sit atop the league by one full game over second place Villanova and Louisville, who both own records of 5-1. The Bearcats are off for the next six days as they prepare for their next league match at Louisville on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m.