TicketsSept. 21, 2011
By Shawn Sell
On paper, the early season results turned in by the UC Volleyball team may not look all that impressive. But that is where numbers don't tell the full story. While his team is just two games over the .500 mark at 8-6 following Tuesday night's win over Evansville, UC head coach Reed Sunahara is generally pleased with what he has seen from the 2011 Bearcats; especially considering the start the squad got off to.
It has been well documented that the Bearcats would have significant losses to overcome from last season's 30-6 squad, arguably the best ever to don the UC red and black. With All-American Stephanie Niemer and four-year starting setter Annie Fesl graduated, the sledding was going to be tough for a team with just one senior. The schedule also did the Bearcats no favors as they have already taken on six of this week's AVCA top-25 teams. But to come out of that stretch with eight wins, Sunahara found himself encouraged.
"I thought up until last weekend, I was pretty happy with where we were," Sunahara says. "Obviously, losing two over the weekend hurt, but we played two good teams. Illinois is No. 3 and Purdue is a good team, but if we could have snuck one out, I would have felt a lot better."
The gift for the Bearcats in exchange for the tough start has been a huge RPI boost which will certainly be important for UC's NCAA Tournament at-large hopes come November. Volleyball guru Rich Kern publishes unofficial RPI rankings weekly on his Richkern.com website and often his numbers nearly mirror the official NCAA rankings at season's end. This week, UC checks in at No. 14 in the RKPI, having already played four of the top-five squads nationally.
"You never know what is best for a team," Sunahara says. "My philosophy is always to play better teams, but this year was an exceptionally tough year in regards to scheduling early. For one, we haven't played at home yet (prior to last night) and two, we've been on the road for four weeks. Coming away with eight victories, I am happy with that, but on the other hand, you always want more."
To say it's been a roller coaster year for this year's edition of the Bearcats may be an understatement. After winning just one of their first four matches of the year, UC ripped off seven straight wins, knocking over regional foe Kentucky, then-17th ranked Oklahoma and a good Pacific team along the way. That run encouraged Sunahara, but three straight losses, all to ranked teams, showed the UC mentor that his team still has some work to do.
"We had a good run for seven matches," he says. "We went down to Kentucky and took care of business and then beat Oklahoma. We didn't just tuck it in after starting 1-3. I thought after we beat Rice in five that would be a turning point, but then we lost three in a row. We just have to regroup and get better in the gym every day.
"Our blocking and defense needs to improve," he continues. "Our passing broke down this weekend and I think that hurt us. And then offensively, we have to get better. Our upperclassmen, I don't think their numbers are where they need to be." One player that Sunahara has been impressed with early on is freshman setter Caylin Mahoney. With big shoes to fill with the departure of Fesl, Mahoney has been solid, entering the week ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in assists per set. Sunahara sees her continued improvement as a key for the rest of the Bearcats' season.
"I think Caylin is doing a pretty good job," he says. "Like everyone else, I think she can improve. I think she is getting better every time she steps foot on the court because of the experience she is getting. Hopefully, her skill gets better and the number one thing is location. If her location is good, I think that will help our hitters. On the flip side though, our hitters need to help her too, so it goes both ways. If we can start firing on all cylinders, I think we will be tough."
By becoming a tough team like Sunahara hopes, UC will try to defend their 2010 BIG EAST Championship and that defense starts this weekend with the opening of league play. With 11 of the league's 15 teams sporting a winning record entering this week, Sunahara expects the conference race to be a dogfight again this year.
"We just saw Louisville play (over the weekend) and they are going to be good," he says. "They are favored to win (the BIG EAST) for a reason. Marquette just took Minnesota to five and Villanova is off to a good start, so I think there is going to be a lot of parity."
The Bearcats kick off BIG EAST play on Friday night, hosting Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. St. John's will also pay a visit to Fifth Third Arena this weekend for a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday.
NIEMER ENJOYING NEW ROLE
When All-American Stephanie Niemer left school with one quarter remaining to graduate following last season to pursue a pro career in Puerto Rico, she vowed to return to campus to earn her degree following the off-season. She is doing just that and is still finding a way to be involved with the Bearcat program as she has joined Coach Reed Sunahara's staff as a undergraduate student assistant coach. In her new position, Niemer fills a variety of roles, helping Sunahara and the other assistants in any way she can.
"It is great to be around many of the same girls that I played with," she says. "It's a lot more nerve racking now because I have no control over how the game goes. But when things are going well, I am happy to sit back and watch them have at it. It's nice to see the older girls step up and take that leadership role. It's a totally different role, but I am adapting."
"She does the odds and ends for us," Sunahara adds. "She has been a good addition to the program and is willing to do whatever we need her to do, whether it be keeping stats or ordering food on the road, just everything. She has no complains and she has a vested interest in this program. We are glad that she is helping."
Since she is still an undergrad, Niemer is able to practice with the team as well, helping the current Bearcats get better while also keep herself in shape for her professional career. With a former All-American playing against the starters, Sunahara is happy to have Niemer involved.
"If we can beat her on the other side, we are going to beat a lot of teams," he says.