TicketsNov. 26, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio - In its regular-season finale, the No. 22-ranked University of Cincinnati volleyball team defeated Miami University in three sets (25-17, 25-17, 25-20) on Friday, Nov. 26, at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.
The Bearcats (29-5, 13-1 BIG EAST) won the match thanks in large part to its defense, which held the Redhawks to a .103 hitting percentage for the match.
Offensively, outside hitter Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) paced UC with nine kills, followed by eight each from Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind,/Lawrence North) and Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich,/Lutheran Westland). Setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) passed out 36 assists and Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) had 14 digs.
Cincinnati overcame a .162 hitting percentage in the first set mainly due to its defense holding Miami to a -.029 percentage. After consecutive kills from freshman outside hitter Lauren Grant (Eagan, Minn./Eastview) increased UC's lead to 7-2, Miami came back to bring the score to 8-7.
The Bearcats then went on a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 13-7 that featured another kill from Grant, as well as a kill and service ace by sophomore middle blocker Refenes. UC later followed that up with a 4-0 run to take a 21-13 lead before winning the first 25-17.
Grant and Refenes both had three kills in the first to lead UC. MacIntyre had five digs in the set, while Fesl recorded 11 assists.
The second set was deadlocked 12-12 when Miami scored the next point before UC went on a 7-0 run to take a 19-13 lead. Four of the points during the run came from MU errors. With the score 15-19, the Bearcats went on another 4-0 that saw Refenes smack an ace and a kill. A spectacular display of team defense led to a Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) kill that ended the second set 25-17.
Cincinnati shot a .241 percentage in the second set and was led by Niemer's four kills, MacIntyre's six digs and Fesl's nine assists. UC held the Redhawks to a .121 percentage, recorded three team blocks and 17 digs in the second.
After Miami went on a 5-0 run to take a 16-15 lead in the third set, Cincinnati ran off four consecutive points and regained the lead at 19-16. Cincinnati went on to win the third 25-20 and take the match in three.
Cincinnati will find out its postseason fate during the NCAA Volleyball Championship Selection Show, which will air on Sunday, Nov. 28, at 3 p.m. on ESPNEWS.