TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team continues its homestand with a pair of matches this week, beginning with No. 19 BYU at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Bearcats will then host Kansas State at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Cincinnati has established itself among the nation’s leaders in key categories. The Bearcats rank eighth in hitting percentage at .298 and 29th in blocks per set at 2.63, highlighting their efficiency on offense and strength at the net defensively.
// MILESTONES REACHED AND UPCOMING
Cincinnati head coach Danijela Tomić reached a career milestone on Sept. 13, securing her 400th career victory as she guided the Bearcats to a 3-1 win over Illinois State. With the achievement, she joined an elite group of just 47 Division I coaches who have earned 400 or more victories.
On the player side, junior outside hitter Sydney Nolan recently surpassed 600 career kills after recording four against UCF on Sept. 24. Senior outside hitter Carly Glendinning is also closing in on a milestone, needing just one more to reach 150 career blocks.
// SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati and BYU have met four times, with the first matchup occurring in 2023. BYU leads the series 3-1, though the Bearcats won the most recent contest, a thrilling 3-2 road victory in 2024.
The Bearcats and Kansas State have faced off twice, splitting the series at one win apiece. Kansas State won the latest matchup, a five-set battle inside Fifth Third Arena in 2024. Cincinnati claimed the first meeting in 2023 with a 3-1 victory on the road in Manhattan, Kansas.
// BIG 12 DUBS
The Bearcats earned their first Big 12 Conference win of the season on Sept. 27, defeating West Virginia 3-1 at home. Glendinning led the way with a season-high 18 kills while hitting .412. She also tied a season best in digs with 13, notching her fourth double-double of the year.
Nolan added 19 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, combining with Glendinning for 37 kills. Freshman contributors stepped up as well, with redshirt freshman Brooke Crummel tallying five blocks and freshman Elliott Mickelberry adding four. As a team, the Bearcats posted 61 kills on a .374 hitting percentage and collected 53 digs.
UC as a squad currently ranks first in the Big 12 in opponent blocks (54.0), second in hitting percentage (.298) and third in blocks (2.63), underscoring the balance and efficiency they displayed in the win.
// NOLAN SPEARHEADING THE ATTACK
Nolan has emerged as one of the nation’s most effective attackers. She currently ranks 17th in the country in kills per set (4.53), 21st in points per set (5.03), 31st in attacks per set (11.40), and 32nd in total kills (204).
Within the Big 12, Nolan ranks first in attacks per set, second in total kills, and second in points (226.5). She continues to pace the Bearcats’ offense with a .306 hitting percentage. Nolan’s dominant play earned her Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 9 after registering 52 total kills across three matches at the Chattanooga Classic.
// SPIES DISHING OUT DIMES
Sophomore transfer Andi Spies has been a steady force running the Bearcats’ offense this season. She has recorded 40 or more assists in four matches, including a season-best 52 against West Virginia—her first match this season with 50-plus assists.
Spies has also tallied three double-doubles in assists and digs, doing so against Alabama, Illinois State, and Ball State. Her career high came during her time at Middle Tennessee, when she dished out 55 assists against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24, 2024.
// ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS FROM COACH TOMIĆ!!
Coach Tomić is grateful for Bearcat Nation’s unwavering support this season. As a thank you to the fans who help make Fifth Third Arena such a great homecourt advantage, she is giving away two courtside tickets to the BYU match.
To enter the giveaway, click HERE
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