TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team returns to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 23, to host Utah at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Bearcats (10-7, 2-5 Big 12) look to get back on track after falling in four sets to No. 20 Baylor on Oct. 17.
Cincinnati continues to rank among the nation’s top programs statistically, standing 22nd in hitting percentage (.272 – 2nd in the Big 12) and 41st in blocks per set (2.58 – 4th in the Big 12). The Bearcats’ balanced play on both sides of the net has powered their competitive start to conference play, while the team holds the No. 36 spot in the latest RPI rankings.
// MILESTONES REACHED AND UPCOMING
Head coach Danijela Tomić reached a major career milestone earlier this season, earning her 400th career victory in Cincinnati’s 3-1 win over Illinois State on Sept. 13. She is one of just 47 active Division I head coaches to achieve the feat.
Senior outside hitter Carly Glendinning surpassed 1,000 career kills with a 19-kill performance against No. 19 BYU on Oct. 1 and later eclipsed 150 career blocks versus Kansas State on Oct. 4.
Junior outside hitter Sydney Nolan recently crossed the 700 career kills mark following a 17-kill outing against No. 11 TCU on Oct. 15.
Graduate student McKenzie Johnson is closing in on 1,500 career digs, entering the week with 1,431, just 69 shy of the milestone.
// SERIES HISTORY
Utah leads the all-time series 3-0, claiming each of the previous matchups in straight sets.
In the most recent meeting, the Utes held control throughout, leading in kills (50-36), blocks (11-4), assists (47-31) and digs (46-41), while outhitting the Bearcats, .364 to .176.
// NOLAN LEADING THE CHARGE
Nolan continues to shine as one of the Big 12’s top offensive performers. She ranks 13th nationally in kills per set (4.65), 16th in attacks per set (11.79) and 19th in points per set (5.05).
Within the conference, Nolan sits second in total kills (307) and points (333), while ranking third in total attacks (778), attacks per set and kills per set. She posted a standout performance against No. 19 BYU, finishing with 25 kills on 52 swings with no errors for a .481 hitting percentage.
Nolan has recorded 20 or more kills in seven matches this season and leads the Bearcats with a .311 hitting percentage. She was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9 after totaling 52 kills across three matches at the Chattanooga Classic.
// SPIES RUNNING THE OFFENSE
Sophomore setter Andi Spies has been a key distributor for Cincinnati’s attack. She has notched 40 or more assists in seven matches this season, including a season-best 52 against West Virginia on Sept. 27, her first 50-assist outing as a Bearcat.
Spies ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 9.80 assists per set and has recorded five double-doubles this season. Her career high of 55 assists came while at Middle Tennessee against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24, 2024.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
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