TicketsOct. 23, 2010
CINCINNATI - The No. 23-ranked University of Cincinnati (19-4; 7-1) volleyball team defeated the University of South Florida in three sets (25-10, 25-9, 25-21) Saturday, Oct. 23, at Fifth Third Arena, keeping pace with rival Louisville for first place in the BIG EAST Conference standings.
Senior outside hitter Stephanie Neimer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) paced the Bearcats with 18 points on 11 kills, five service aces, and four assisted blocks, while senior setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) directed the UC attack with 25 assists.
With the score tied 5-5 in the first set, the Bearcats reeled off 14 straight points on their way to winning 25-10 to take a 1-0 match lead. Sophomore middle blocker Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) recorded five service aces in the first, while Niemer and sophomore middle blocker Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) both recorded four kills. UC finished the set with an outstanding .579 hitting percentage.
The second set saw much of the same, with Cincinnati efficiently winning, 25-10, on the strength of Niemer's four kills, as well as her four service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) also added four kills in the set. Defensively, the Bearcats recorded four blocks in the set and held USF to a -.160 hitting percentage in the second set.
The Bearcats went into the third with a shot at breaking the 33-point all-time UC mark for the fewest points allowed in a three-set match, having surrendered just 19 through the first two sets. However, the third was much more competitive as the Bulls racked up 21 points to Cincinnati's 25. Despite the Bearcats' .194 hitting percentage in the final stanza, they were able to hang on and complete the win.
UC returns to Fifth Third Arena's on Sunday, Oct. 24, as it hosts the Georgetown Hoyas in a BIG EAST matchup at 2 p.m. In honor of October Breast Cancer Awareness month, the tilt has been deemed a Dig for a Cure match, with the first 150 fans receiving pink headbands and having the opportunity to donate to University Hospital's Barrett Cancer Center.