TicketsOct. 31, 2010
CINCINNATI - In its final home match of the season, the No. 21-ranked University of Cincinnati volleyball team ensured its school record 39-match home winning streak would survive another year by defeating Villanova in three sets (25-12, 25-16, 25-16) Sunday, Oct. 31, at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (22-4, 9-1 BIG EAST) was led by its three starting seniors: outside hitter Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry); setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey); and defensive specialist Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). Niemer posted her 11th double-double of the season (18 kills, 16 digs), Fesl dished out 43 assists and Upton recorded a career high 15 digs.
With the score 7-5 in the opening set, the Bearcats ran off 13 consecutive points and went on to win the first 25-12. Sophomore middle blocker Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) paced Cincinnati with six of her 12 kills in the first set, while Fesl handed out 16 assists. Overall, UC had a .484 hitting percentage as a team in the set, led by Niemer and junior outside hitter Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy), who both had .625 percentages on five kills.
Neimer entered the second with nine digs and secured the double-double early in a set that saw the Bearcats record a .412 hitting percentage while holding VU to a .154 clip. Frustrated Wildcats head coach Josh Steinbach, a former UC assistant, was handed a yellow card midway through the second after arguing calls with the referees. The Bearcats scored the final five points of the set, capped off by Upton's lone kill of the match.
The Bearcats proficiently handled Villanova in the third, hitting .400 in the final set. Niemer led Cincinnati with eight kills in the set, followed by sophomore middle blocker Becca Refenes' (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) four. Refenes finished the match with 10 digs and a match-high .692 hitting percentage.
Late in the final set, UC head coach Reed Sunahara pulled Niemer, Fesl and Upton to recognize their four-year efforts, which garnered standing ovations from the Fifth Third Arena crowd.
Senior defensive specialist Julie Guenther (Fairfield, Ohio/Hamilton Badin), who suffered a preseason injury and has not played this year, and four-year team manager Jeff Foltz joined Niemer, Fesl and Upton in postgame Senior Day ceremonies.
The Bearcats return to action next weekend when they play BIG EAST Conference matches on Saturday, Nov. 6, at West Virginia and Sunday, Nov. 7, at Pittsburgh.