TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati volleyball team rounds out its homestand this week with a pair of Big 12 matchups against No. 14 Kansas and Houston inside Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats face the Jayhawks on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET and the Cougars on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Cincinnati enters the week riding momentum after a four-set victory over Utah on Oct. 22. The Bearcats hit .296 as a team, recorded eight service aces, and out-blocked the Utes, 11-2.
The win highlighted UC’s continued efficiency on both sides of the net—ranking 20th nationally in hitting percentage (.273, second in the Big 12) and 31st in blocks per set (2.59, third in the Big 12). Cincinnati currently holds the No. 41 spot in the RPI rankings.
// MILESTONES REACHED AND UPCOMING
Head coach Danijela Tomić reached a major career milestone on Sept. 13, earning her 400th career win in a 3-1 victory over Illinois State. She is one of just 47 active Division I coaches to reach the 400-win mark.
Senior outside hitter Carly Glendinning surpassed 1,000 career kills with a season-high 19 against No. 19 BYU on Oct. 1. She later eclipsed 150 career blocks versus Kansas State on Oct. 4.
Junior outside hitter Sydney Nolan collected her 700th career kill following a 17-kill performance at No. 11 TCU on Oct. 15. Graduate student McKenzie Johnson continues to close in on a career milestone of her own, sitting at 1,436 digs, just 64 shy of the 1,500 mark.
// SERIES HISTORY
Kansas holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series, sweeping both previous meetings. In their last matchup on Oct. 12, 2024, the then-No. 8 Jayhawks controlled the stat sheet, leading in kills (43–38), blocks (9–3), assists (39–34), and digs (44–39) while hitting .364 to Cincinnati’s .176.
Houston leads the all-time series with Cincinnati, 16–13 and has claimed the last six matchups. The first meeting between the programs came in 1979, when the Cougars earned a 2-0 win. In their most recent contest on Nov. 2, 2025, Houston took a 3-1 victory at home behind advantages in kills (59–47), blocks (10–8), and assists (56–46).
// NOLAN LEADING THE CHARGE
Nolan continues to produce at an elite level, ranking among the nation’s top attackers. She sits 19th in the NCAA in kills per set (4.57), 22nd in points per set (4.98), and 23rd in attacks per set (11.69).
Within the Big 12, Nolan ranks third in both kills and attacks per set, while placing fourth in total attacks and points per set. Her 320 total kills rank fifth in the league. Nolan has posted 20 or more kills in seven matches this season and leads UC with a .307 hitting percentage. She earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 9 after totaling 52 kills across three matches at the Chattanooga Classic.
// SPIES SETTING THE PACE
Sophomore setter Andi Spies has been instrumental in orchestrating the Bearcats’ offense. The Middle Tennessee transfer has surpassed 40 assists in seven matches this season, including a season-high 52 against West Virginia on Sept. 27. She currently ranks sixth in the Big 12 in assists per set (9.74) and has registered six double-doubles on the year. Her career high of 55 assists came at Middle Tennessee against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24, 2024.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati showcased its all-around strength in last week’s 3-1 win over Utah. The Bearcats hit .296 with eight aces and 11 blocks while limiting the Utes to a .090 clip.
Nolan led with 13 kills and a season-best five blocks, while Glendinning and sophomore Gretchen Sigman (.476) each added 11 kills. Spies tallied a double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs, and Glendinning recorded another with a career-high 19 digs. Freshman Tatjana Simeunović contributed five blocks, and senior Paige Pickering tied her career high with three service aces.
UC dominated the opening set 25–10, dropped the second 25–22, then sealed the match with decisive 25–15 and 25–16 wins.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
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