TicketsCINCINNATI – The University Cincinnati women's volleyball team opens its 2021 season this weekend when it travels to Illinois State (2-1) for matches against the Redbirds on Friday at 5 p.m. ET and Saturday at 2 p.m. ET at Redbird Arena. Both of the matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
This weekend's competition marks UC's first since the stellar 2019 campaign that featured an American Athletic Conference regular-season title, the program's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, a No. 19 national ranking and a 27-7 overall record and 15-1 league mark.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 fall campaign to this spring.
UC had its first taste of competition back on Jan. 15, when the Bearcats hosted Miami (Ohio) for an exhibition game. The Bearcats were excited to return to play and get into an active rotation, allowing them to get some sets in before the regular-season opener.
"I think the biggest thing I've seen from the team is now that everything we built up, everything we've talked about, and goals that we've set, is now going to be set in motion and that's exciting for us" UC head coach Molly Alvey said. "There's a big relief, and a sense of heightened passion. I really felt through the ups and downs, we've had a group that's committed to staying focused. Now we can take that and streamline it a little bit more and put it out on the court."
"There's excitement, relief, and I can feel a bit of that competitive edge coming back. The exhibition match was a great way to cycle in everyone and get them game day experience. It was great for everyone to get that experience, and to get it on our court was really a good thing for us. We're excited to get this experience again against a very good Illinois State team this weekend. They have a very good program and it will provide us the opportunity to go against awell-coached team."
Juniors Maria Mallon, Armania Heckenmueller, Adria Oliver, Hannah Bolinger and Ashley Kozer lead UC's returners. Sophomores Kerstin Ficker, Madison Waters, and Payton Frederick will also be returning to help the Bearcats this season. Redshirt sophomores Shannon Williams, Kailea Carrier and Dimitra Tziarli will add experience to the roster. The strong freshmen class of Sarah Norcom, Alex Kwasnik, Bahar Kurtulus and Maria Tobergte also look to contribute.
Heckenmueller led the Bearcats with 212 assists in 2019, averaging 13.25 assists.
Mallon looks to help fill the role for Thompson this season as she returns for the Bearcats. During the 2019 season, Mallon averaged 3.79 kills. Thompson led the team
averaging 6.38 kills.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
This weekend's competition marks UC's first since the stellar 2019 campaign that featured an American Athletic Conference regular-season title, the program's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, a No. 19 national ranking and a 27-7 overall record and 15-1 league mark.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 fall campaign to this spring.
UC had its first taste of competition back on Jan. 15, when the Bearcats hosted Miami (Ohio) for an exhibition game. The Bearcats were excited to return to play and get into an active rotation, allowing them to get some sets in before the regular-season opener.
"I think the biggest thing I've seen from the team is now that everything we built up, everything we've talked about, and goals that we've set, is now going to be set in motion and that's exciting for us" UC head coach Molly Alvey said. "There's a big relief, and a sense of heightened passion. I really felt through the ups and downs, we've had a group that's committed to staying focused. Now we can take that and streamline it a little bit more and put it out on the court."
"There's excitement, relief, and I can feel a bit of that competitive edge coming back. The exhibition match was a great way to cycle in everyone and get them game day experience. It was great for everyone to get that experience, and to get it on our court was really a good thing for us. We're excited to get this experience again against a very good Illinois State team this weekend. They have a very good program and it will provide us the opportunity to go against awell-coached team."
Juniors Maria Mallon, Armania Heckenmueller, Adria Oliver, Hannah Bolinger and Ashley Kozer lead UC's returners. Sophomores Kerstin Ficker, Madison Waters, and Payton Frederick will also be returning to help the Bearcats this season. Redshirt sophomores Shannon Williams, Kailea Carrier and Dimitra Tziarli will add experience to the roster. The strong freshmen class of Sarah Norcom, Alex Kwasnik, Bahar Kurtulus and Maria Tobergte also look to contribute.
Heckenmueller led the Bearcats with 212 assists in 2019, averaging 13.25 assists.
Mallon looks to help fill the role for Thompson this season as she returns for the Bearcats. During the 2019 season, Mallon averaged 3.79 kills. Thompson led the team
averaging 6.38 kills.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.