TicketsNov. 24, 2010
By Shawn Sell
GoBEARCATS.com
The sour taste is still in their mouths. Coming off what their coach labeled "our worst match of the year," on the season's biggest stage, the UC Volleyball team still has time to leave its mark as the 2010 season hits its closing stages.
Over the last two weeks, things were going great. The Bearcats shook off a two-set deficit at Syracuse to win; bounced Marquette to wrap up the BIG EAST regular season championship and then swept their way into the championship match of the conference tournament. With the reality of the program's first BIG EAST Tournament title in sight, UC's arch nemesis, the Louisville Cardinals once again shattered the Bearcats' dreams, sending the Cats back to Cincinnati as tournament runners-up.
"It was disappointing. I thought we would be a lot better than we were, but obviously not," UC head coach Reed Sunahara reflected. "I thought it was the worst match we played all year, but you have to give credit to Louisville. They were ready to play and I think they wanted it more."
"We were just off," he continued. "Louisville is a good blocking and defensive team and they outhit and outblocked us. If you look at the stats, you would understand why we lost."
And a surprising loss it was. UC came into Sunday's nationally-televised contest red hot, having ripped off 12 straight set wins. The players also were out for revenge against a Cards team that not only toppled them in last season's BIG EAST finals, but also handed UC its only regular season conference loss. But it wasn't to be for Sunahara's team.
"It was kind of a weird match and we could never really get into the flow of things," Sunahara confessed. "We were just never in a groove. It was like someone did something good and then somebody else didn't. I told (assistant coach) Myanna (Hellsten), we just kept compounding our mistakes with another mistake."
But what happened in the BIG EAST Tournament is now in the past and the Bearcats will refocus and get ready for a likely NCAA Tournament bid early next month. While nothing is a certainty, Sunahara and company feel comfortable with the resume they have built. That docket includes not only the BIG EAST regular season crown, but a No. 22 national ranking, an RPI of 17 and wins over nationally-ranked foes Kentucky and Illinois.
"I think this year for sure is different," Sunahara said. "I feel confident that we are going to get in (to the NCAA Tournament). Our RPI is good and everyone that I've talked to thinks we are in. In that respect, yes I feel better. But we have to get back on track and play better than we did on Sunday if we expect to make a good run down the stretch."
With a strong resume already under its belt, UC will use its regular season finale against local rival Miami (OH) on Friday as a time to refocus and tune up for a hopefully deep NCAA Tournament run. That's a change from years past where the Bearcats were often looking for one more marquee win to pad the resume. This time is different and Sunahara has just one thing on his mind.
"We need to regroup and get focused on what our goals are," he says. I think the past couple of days (off) were good for us and now we need to get back on it. We need to make a statement this weekend."
That statement would include a win over the RedHawks that would push UC one step closer to some uncharted territory. The Bearcats' record stands at 28-5 and a triumph on Friday, along with a first round NCAA Tournament win would push the squad to the program's first 30-win season since 1983. The difference between now and 27 years ago? The 1983 team achieved 30 wins during a whopping 45-match season. While 30 wins would be landmark, Sunahara is just taking it one match at a time with a simple goal in mind.
"You always want to win as many games as you can," he says. "I really don't look at how many wins we have, I just look at matches one by one. I know we are close and hopefully we can get another two to make a really good season (complete)."