TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team will open the 2025 season with its annual Tribute to #10 this weekend inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats kick off the weekend on Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Wake Forest before taking on Michigan on Sunday.
This season marks the first under head coach Danijela Tomić, who got hired to lead the program in Dec of 2024.
The Bearcats return 10 players from a season ago, while also welcoming eight newcomers to Cincinnati, including five freshmen and three transfers.
SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati and Wake Forest meet for the first time in history while the Bearcats and Wolverines meet for the third time.
The last time UC and UM met was in 2017 where Michigan defeated Cincinnati in straight sets. Michigan lead the overall series 2-1.
THE TOMIĆ ERA
Cincinnati welcomed Danijela Tomić as the 13th head coach in program history in December of 2024.
Tomić comes to UC from Bowling Green, where she served as head coach for 13 seasons. She also spent seven seasons as head coach of Florida International. Her record as an NCAA head coach stands at 394-222 (.640).
Tomić comes to UC from Bowling Green, where she served as head coach for 13 seasons. She also spent seven seasons as head coach of Florida International. Her record as an NCAA head coach stands at 394-222 (.640).
Tomić added three staff members to her group, two joining from her previous school.
Zheng Xiang joined the staff in February 2025 to serve as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Zheng Xiang (pronounced Chung Shawn) joins the Bearcats after two seasons at Michigan State (2023-24), where he helped lead the Spartans to their best win total since 2019.
Ali Cooke (Assistant Coach) reunites with Tomić after spending the past eight seasons at Bowling Green State University, where she most recently served as associate head coach.
Sean Drexl (Assistant Coach) joins the Cincinnati volleyball staff after working alongside Coach Tomić as Director of Operations at Bowling Green State University for the past two seasons.
RETURNING TALENT
Cincinnati returns 10 letterwinners, including four starters from a season ago. The Bearcats bring back two of their leading point scorers, Sydney Nolan (3.38 pts/s) and Carly Glendinning (3.96 pts/s).
Nolan played in 29 matches, covering 105 sets for the Bearcats. In 2024, she posted five double-doubles and recorded a career-high 22 kills vs. BYU (Nov. 21).
Nolan played in 29 matches, covering 105 sets for the Bearcats. In 2024, she posted five double-doubles and recorded a career-high 22 kills vs. BYU (Nov. 21).
Glendinning posted double-digit kills in 15 matches last season alongside a season-high 24 kills against Morehead State (Sept. 19).
The Bearcats also return sophomore duo of Gretchen Sigman and Lilly Gillespie.
Gillespie finished the 2024 season with 140 digs (1.63 dig/s) while Sigman covered the right side, recording 79 digs, 31 kills and eight blocks.
TRIBUTE TO #10
The program announced on August 19, 2022 that the first home match(es) of each season will be named Tribute to #10 in honor of former volleyball student-athlete and coach Stephanie Meinig-Rosfeld.
Meinig-Rosfeld was a standout middle hitter for the Bearcats from 1997-00, who also served as an assistant coach for the program before passing away in 2004.
Meinig-Rosfeld was a standout middle hitter for the Bearcats from 1997-00, who also served as an assistant coach for the program before passing away in 2004.
A two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection, Meinig-Rosfeld still holds the C-USA record for total blocks (593). She also holds Cincinnati’s record for most games played (502) and ranks second in program history in total blocks (593) and block assists (518).
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
The Bearcats welcome five talented freshmen for the 2025 season: Ava Ledebuhr, Elliott Mickelberry, Izzy Busignani, Tatjana Simeunović and Fallyn Blotzer.
Ava Ledebuhr, a 5-8 libero from Naperville, Ill., helped Benet Academy to back-to-back IHSA 2nd-place finishes (39–3 and 40–2 seasons), earning two Best Defensive Player awards and contributing key digs in big matches.
Elliott Mickelberry, a 6-2 middle/opposite from Lafayette, Colo., was 27th in her state in blocks as a junior, earned All-Conference honors in high school and helped Norco VBC to a state runner-up and national berth.
Izzy Busignani, a 6-1 outside hitter out of Michigan, tallied 581 kills, 310 digs and 45 aces as a senior, earning MaxPreps All-America honors and AAU All-American status. She joined the program in the spring.,
Tatjana Simeunović, at 6-3 from Serbia, brings a club résumé that includes helping Borac win the Second Serbian League and earn promotion.
Fallyn Blotzer, a 6-1 outside hitter from Corona, Calif., was the No. 1 recruit in California, led Santiago High to record-setting freshman kill totals and consistently dominated with kills, aces, and digs.
IMPACT TRANSFERS POISED TO LEAD BEARCATS
The Bearcats have bolstered their roster with three key transfers ahead of the 2025 season. Setter Andi Spies (Middle Tennessee) brings a decorated freshman résumé, including C-USA Freshman of the Year and over 1,100 assists.
Graduate transfer libero McKenzie Johnson (Louisiana Tech) adds veteran leadership, holding school records in digs and service aces. Johnson played 301 sets across 87 matches with 1,341 career digs, 107 aces and 248 assists. She holds LA Tech records for career digs per set (4.46), single-season digs per set (5.24), and single-match digs (37).
Middle blocker Brooke Crummel (Liberty) brings size, versatility, and high-level prep experience after redshirting her freshman year. A three‑time GVCA All‑Region, 2023 Region Co‑Player of the Year. PrepVolleyball Top 150 and AAU All‑American.