TicketsAug. 27, 2011
DeKalb, Ill. - The players of the University of Cincinnati's volleyball team (0-3) showed their versatility and drive Saturday afternoon against No. 14 University of Northern Iowa, but it was not enough as the Bearcats lost 3-1 (17-25, 19-25, 25-16, 24-26).
Junior Megan Turner (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) led UC with 15 kills and was again the only Bearcat to reach double digit kills. Freshman Caylin Mahoney (Fort Worth, Texas/Keller Central) recorded 40 assists in the loss in addition to 7 digs. Senior Missy Harpenau (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) narrowly missed a double-double with 9 kills and 12 digs, she had the most digs out of all UC players with sophomore Emily MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) close behind with 11. Junior Becca Refenes (Westland, Mich./Lutheran Westland) had a solid performance at the net with 3 solo blocks and 3 block assists, she also hit .316.
The quality of first set action started was dismal as the Bearcats only earned points on the Panthers' three missed serves for a score of 5-3. Emily Hayden (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) scored the first earned point with a kill to make the score 6-5. UNI then went on a 5-0 run to force head coach Reed Sunahara to call a timeout at 11-5. Mahoney came up with a solo block to bring the Bearcats closer 14-7. It was only after a timeout and a kill by Refenes that the Bearcats got the ball and more than one point to bring the score to 17-9. A diving dig from sophomore Brianna Richey (Tiffin, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudin) and a kill from Harpenau made the score 21-13. After a block by Refenes and Mahoney and an ace by MacIntyre, the Bearcats seemed to have momentum as they brought the score to 23-16. It was not enough as the Panthers went on to win the first set 25-17.
Several lineup changes occurred in the second set with the hopes of throwing the Panthers off their game. Freshman Jamie Netisingha (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central), who has seen playing time in every match so far, made the switch to libero, Hayden went to the right side, Jordanne Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) moved to the middle after spending nine months learning how to play outside, Turner went to the outside and Refenes played back row while continuing her middle blocker duties. After some confusion about serving order and a Turner kill, the Bearcats found themselves on top at 6-4. After the Panthers fought back and got ahead, a timeout was called by Sunahara to give the players a break at 13-11. Defensive plays, a block by Mahoney and Scott and a kill by Harpenau brought the Bearcats within one at 18-17. Northern Iowa then went on a 4-0 run to bring them closer to set point at 22-17 when a timeout was called by Cincinnati. That run proved to be the Bearcats' downfall in the second set as the Panthers took it 25-19.
The Bearcats came out fully charged in the third set, spoken for by the score of 8-2 and never looking back from there. The changed lineup from the second set remained intact with the exception of MacIntyre returning to the libero position. Defense looked to be improved both on the net and in the back court as blocks and digs were much more apparent in the start of the set. Turner reached for a block to deny the setter of NIU of a kill to bring the Bearcats ahead 10-4. Scott recorded her first kill of the match out of the middle to increase the lead to 14-7. After a timeout called by UNI, Harpenau stepped up behind the serving line and scored five to bring her team up 19-8. With the Bearcats within three of taking the set, the Panthers started to fight back to bring the score to 22-13. Solid defense and serve receive brought the Bearcats the set at 25-16.
Going into the fourth set, Turner was leading all players with 12 kills, she added another three at the beginning of the set to make the Bearcats ahead 6-5. A timeout called by Sunahara was caused by a lead change at 10-7. Errors and a net violation by the Bearcats kept the Panthers ahead 13-9. Digs by Harpenau and booming blocks from Refenes, Scott and Turner brought the Bearcats the lead at 16-14. A timeout called by the Panthers kept the momentum with the Bearcats a point later at 17-14. The energy quickly shifted as the Panthers fought back to tie the score at 19. The score remained neck and neck until the very end with both teams working hard to keep the ball off the floor but ultimately, the Panthers of Northern Iowa came out on top by a fourth set score of 26-24.
The Bearcats will end the Northern Illinois Tournament tonight at 5:00 p.m. against IUPUI.