TicketsDec. 5, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 21-ranked University of Cincinnati volleyball team fell to the University of Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Championship in four sets (17-25, 17-25, 25-20, 21-25) on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Huff Hall.
Cincinnati could not get its offense flowing in the first set, recording just a .175 hitting percentage compared to the Illini's .432, and subsequently fell behind early. After Illinois built an eight-point lead at 20-12, the Bearcats went on a 3-0 run to close the margin, but were unable to complete the comeback and lost the set 17-25.
The second-set result did not fare any better for UC after shooting a .100 hitting percentage while UI recorded a .353 rate. After the score was tied at eight points, Illinois went on runs of 3-0, 4-0 and 4-0 to win the second 17-25 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Down 2-0 in the match and facing elimination in the third set, Stephanie Niemer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry), the BIG EAST Player of the Year, and Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) went to work. Niemer punched a set-high nine of her 20 kills and Refenes swatted one solo block and four assisted blocks to lead UC to a 25-20 third-set win.
Both teams fought to six tied scores in the fourth set, including 17-17. However, Illinois, who was led by junior outside hitter Colleen Ward's 27 kills, went on a 3-0 run to win the fourth and final set 21-25.
With the loss, the Bearcats bid farewell to four seniors: Niemer; setter Annie Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey); middle blocker Lindsay Upton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame); and defensive specialist Julie Guenther (Fairfield, Ohio/Hamilton Badin).
Niemer and Fesl finished their careers tied for first in UC history with 137 matches played. Additionally, Niemer ranks first in school history in service aces and second in kills and kills per set, while Fesl ranks second in career assists.
GoBEARCATS.com