TicketsSept. 26, 2011
CINCINNATI - Thanks to an offensive team effort and 13 opponent missed serves, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team swept St. John's 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-21) Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats are now undefeated in the BIG EAST and did not lose a set all weekend.
The team hit .305 against the Red Storm, led by three Bearcats who hit double-digit kills. Junior Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind. /Lawrence North) recorded a match-high 11 kills and a blistering .556 percentage. Senior Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) and junior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich. /Lutheran Westland) recorded 10 kills each.
Freshman Caylin Mahoney (Fort Worth, Texas /Keller Central) set up the attack with a match-high 35 assists. Sophomore Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind. /Yorktown) led the defensive effort with 12 digs. Harpenau had double-digit digs as well with 11.
Scott combined with Refenes first, and then junior Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky. /Assumption) for two blocks to start the third set for a 4-3 lead. Thanks to kills from Harpenau, Refenes, and Scott the score was tied at 9. Mahoney and Hayden then combined for a block at 15-13. The Bearcats continued to stay ahead with a Refenes kill 19-16. A Refenes hit was dug by the Red Storm back over the net, but Refenes was there to answer with a kill back to the same spot for a score of 21-19. Scott ended the set with a kill for a 25-21 set three and match win.
The Red Storm fought harder to start the second set for a close Bearcat lead 8-6. A long rally that resulted in a St. John's kill, combined with a block, brought the score to their first lead of the match 11-10. Another long rally with impressive defensive plays by both teams brought the score to a tie at 12. The Bearcats were forced to call their first timeout at 17-14. Refenes and Hayden each put down a kill, but the team was still behind 19-18. A block by Scott and Refenes brought the tie at 19. Scott and junior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y. /Wayne Central) put down kills, but the Bearcats were still behind 22-21. A kill from Refenes put the Bearcats back on top 23-22. Turner ended the second set with a kill for a Bearcat win 25-23.
Refenes opened up the match with 3 kills in a row, followed by two Turner kills for a score of 6-1. Mahoney then recorded a solo block on the outside hitter at 9-2. The Bearcats continued to dominate at the net, with a Scott kill and a Refenes/Scott block for a score of 16-8. Hayden cut a ball around the block for a kill of her own at 19-11. Mahoney then dropped a kill in the sideline to bring the Bearcats closer to the set win 23-15. The team took the first set 25-15. Refenes hit an imposing .833 percentage in set one after putting down 5 kills on six attempts. Her efforts, added to the rest of the Bearcats' attackers, put down 15 kills for a .481 percentage.
The Bearcats hit the road again next weekend for two more BIG EAST matchups. The team will play at Notre Dame Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. and DePaul on Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m.