TicketsNov. 20, 2011
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The University of Cincinnati volleyball team will face the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish today at 4 p.m. ET in the final match of the BIG EAST Championship tournament at the Al McGuire Center at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.
The Bearcats will look for their first BIG EAST title since joining the conference in 2005. In 2009 and 2010, the team made it to the final match, but fell short both times to Louisville. Today's match will be aired live on ESPNU with coverage starting at 3 p.m.
So far in the tournament, the Bearcats are led by lone senior Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy). The first-team All-BIG EAST performer has averaged four kills per set, ranking fourth out of all players on the weekend. She has recorded 32 total kills, only eight shy of the leader of the tournament. She also ranks fourth in points per set with 4.38.
Fellow first-team All-BIG EAST member Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind. /Lawrence North) has also been a vital part of the Bearcats' success this tournament. The junior ranks sixth in the tournament with 3.38 kills per set and eighth in points per set with 3.62.
Sophomore libero Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind. /Yorktown) has averaged more digs this tournament than this entire season. She has recorded five digs per set, totaling 40 over the course of the two matches.
Freshman and second-team All-BIG EAST player Caylin Mahoney (Fort Worth, Texas/Keller Central) is ranked third in the tournament with 11 assists per set, totaling 88 in the two matches.
Juniors Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y. /Wayne Central), Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich. /Lutheran Westland) and Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky. /Assumption) have all had very consistent hitting numbers throughout the tournament so far. Turner leads the way with a .341 hitting percentage, ranking sixth overall. Refenes and Hayden are tied for ninth, both posting a .314 hitting percentage.
No. 5 seed Notre Dame is coming off of an upset of No. 1 seed Louisville in the first semifinal last night. This is the team's first appearance in the championship match since 2008, when it was defeated by Louisville.
The Irish are led by Jeni Houser. The freshman ranks third and has recorded 27 total kills and an impressive .423 percentage. She also ranks sixth and is tied with Scott in kills per set with 3.38. Senior libero Frenchy Silva ranks ninth in digs per set with 4.62.
The first serve will be at 4 p.m. ET at the Al McGuire Center. Fans can follow the match on twitter @CincinnatiVBall or watch live on television on ESPNU.