TicketsJuly 3, 2012
CINCINNATI - First-year head coach Molly Alvey and the University of Cincinnati volleyball team released the 2012 schedule today. The season is highlighted by matchups against 10 teams that participated in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, including five that finished the season ranked in the Top 25.
"We are excited to tackle such a strong non-conference schedule, which will prepare us for play in the BIG EAST," Alvey said. "We play 10 teams who finished in the Top 30 in the RPI in 2011, so it will be a challenge. With six seniors and the leadership and experience they provide, we aim to build on the championship tradition of Bearcats volleyball. I can't wait to get all of our fans out to the matches to watch top level competition."
Fresh off a successful 27-10 2011 campaign, Cincinnati opens the 2012 season Aug. 24-25 at the University of Tennessee Tournament, where they will face nationally-ranked Iowa State, Tennessee, and Florida State. The Bearcats will seek revenge against FSU after being knocked out of the 2011 NCAA Tournament by the Seminoles in the second round. The team will then travel to Las Cruces, N.M., one week later for the New Mexico State Tournament before returning to Fifth Third Arena for its home opener against Western Kentucky on Sept. 4.
The Bearcats host the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge Sept. 7-8 at Fifth Third Arena. UC's first opponent will be 2011 NCAA Tournament runner-up Illinois, before facing Purdue, who advanced to the Sweet 16 in last season's national tournament.
Next up, the Bearcats will travel to the Lone Star State for the University of Texas Tournament Sept. 14-15. UC will match-up against UCF, Texas, and Illinois for the second time in consecutive weeks. Texas earned a one-seed in last season's NCAA Tournament, where they advanced in the Elite 8.
BIG EAST Conference play will consist of 15 matches this season, including a league home opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 22, followed by a home meeting with DePaul on Sept. 23. The Bearcats travel to play Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, then quickly head south to Tampa, Fla. for a game against USF on Sept. 30. The Bearcats will meet crosstown rival Xavier on Oct. 3.
The Bearcats host Rutgers and Seton Hall on Oct. 5 and Oct. 7, respectively. During a two-week span, UC goes on a four-game road swing at Connecticut (Oct. 12), St. Johns (Oct. 14), Marquette (Oct. 19) and Syracuse (Oct. 21). The following weekend, Cincinnati welcomes local BIG EAST rival Louisville on Oct. 27 game at 1 p.m.
Cincinnati battles I-75 rival Dayton on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., while BIG EAST foes Georgetown and Villanova conclude UC's home slate on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4, respectively. Cincinnati rounds out its conference slate with road trips to Notre Dame (Nov. 9) and Louisville (Nov. 11).
The BIG EAST Tournament will be hosted by Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 16-18. Following the tournament, the Bearcats will take on Miami (OH) on Nov. 24 in Oxford, Ohio to conclude its regular-season campaign.
Alvey takes the reins of a Bearcats program that has won 20 or more matches in 16 of the last 17 seasons and has made four-straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Bearcats won BIG EAST regular-season titles in 2008 and 2010 and earned the program's first BIG EAST championship tournament title in 2011. Since 2003, 11 Bearcats have earned AVCA All-America honors. Two-time All-America middle blocker Jordanne Scott returns for her senior season in 2012 after leading the Bearcats to a 27-10 mark in 2011. UC is 58-10 against BIG EAST opponents over the last four seasons and held the nation's longest active home-court winning streak throughout the 2011 season, ultimately reaching 48 straight home victories.