TicketsDec. 16, 2010
By Shawn Sell
GoBEARCATS.com
With a campaign as successful as the one enjoyed by the 2010 University of Cincinnati volleyball team, forgive head coach Reed Sunahara if he can't pick just one highlight. He has lots of notable accomplishments to choose from, not the least of which was the program's second BIG EAST regular season championship. Along the way, the Bearcats ascended higher in the AVCA national rankings then any UC team prior, knocked off a pair of highly-ranked foes and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. And don't forget, the program also achieved a 30-win campaign for the first time since the early 1980s. So put on the spot, which accomplishment did Sunahara choose?
"I thought it was a good year for us," he says. "Winning the BIG EAST Championship was the highlight obviously, but we beat Kentucky who was No. 16 and then Illinois (No. 5) and a Purdue team that went to the Elite Eight which were all great wins. (Stephanie) Niemer getting (BIG EAST) Player of the Year was great also. Overall, I was pleased but it is unfortunate how it ended. I really would have liked to see our team get to the Sweet 16."
As was the case in 2008, the Bearcats came up short in a bid for the first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in program annals. It was déjà vu all over again as Illinois was again the foe that ended UC's season, but this time it was the Fighting Illini getting a measure of revenge for an early season defeat to the Bearcats. While the four-set loss left a sting, Sunahara hopes it will motivate the returnees for 2011 to reach greater heights.
"I think the returnees will have a sour taste in their mouths," he says. "That's how it's been the last couple of years. Hopefully, they can step up and get rid of that taste."
As good as this season was Sunahara will still wonder what if? That's a hard concept to grasp for a team that finished 30-6, but a lot has to do with the early season loss of junior outside hitter Missy Harpenau. While Harpenau only missed a total of three matches, a shoulder injury limited her to only back row play for the majority of the year. Had she been able to compliment Niemer on the outside, UC's offense could have been that much more potent.
"Even though Harp did play the last part of the BIG EAST season and played back row most of the way, who knows if she had been able to swing the whole time," Sunahara reflects. "But that's why you play and it will remain in question."
One thing that will never be in question was just how outstanding of a season the Bearcats enjoyed. After breaking into the AVCA top-25 on Sept. 20th for the first time since 2003, UC never looked back, rising in the rankings to a program-best 18th on Nov. 15th. The ranking, along with the signature wins over Kentucky, Illinois and Purdue, turned some heads nationally in the volleyball world and Sunahara sees only brighter days ahead for his program.
"I think it's a good indication of where this program is going and hopefully we can benefit recruiting wise from that," he says. "This is the best year we've had since I've been here. It's been since the 80s that UC won 30 games and we aren't playing as many games as they did then. It's definitely beneficial (to get to 30 wins) for our program and a credit to how hard these kids worked."
No review of the 2010 season would be complete without mentioning UC's All-American trio; honorable mention selections Annie Fesl and Jordanne Scott and perhaps the greatest Bearcat of them all, second team All-American Niemer. In addition, all three players were touted first team All-BIG EAST, with Niemer also taking home the conference player of the year trophy, becoming the first UC player to do so since Julie DuPont in 2004. Niemer's accomplishments are clearly not lost on her coach.
"She helped us beat the highest ranked team we have ever beaten and was a second team All-American," he says. "I think it leaves a big mark (on the UC program) since she was the Player of the Year in BIG EAST and a second team All-American. Those are just huge accomplishments. Hopefully, it's something other kids will see and use her as a role model."
With the 2010 season now becoming a memory, Sunahara and his team are still left thinking and wondering about what could have been. What if Harpenau had stayed healthy? What if they could have at least split the two meetings with Louisville? What if they had drawn a better NCAA Tournament pairing? At the end of the day, however this season will go down as one of the best ever produced by UC Volleyball. With all the achievements, Sunahara still points to two goals the team came up just short on.
"We were really hoping to win the BIG EAST Tournament," he says. "That and (qualifying for) the Sweet 16 are the two things that stick out in my mind. The Sweet 16 is one thing the players would have really remembered. Other than that, we really accomplished a lot this year."