TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team opens its 2026 season on the road in Champaign, Ill., featuring a true road test against host Illinois followed by a neutral-site matchup against Syracuse. Both contests will be played inside Huff Hall, with the Bearcats taking on the Fighting Illini on Friday at 8 p.m. ET before returning to the floor Saturday for a 4 p.m. ET match against the Orange.
Both matches will stream live on B1G+.
The Bearcats enter the campaign following a strong 2025 season, ranking 32nd nationally in hitting percentage (.259 – third in the Big 12) and 38th in blocks per set (2.53 – third in the Big 12). Cincinnati’s balance of net defense and offensive efficiency pushed the program as high as No. 43 in the RPI rankings.
// SERIES HISTORY
Illinois leads the all-time series against Cincinnati, 11-5, dating back to the first meeting in December 1973. In the last matchup on Sept. 25, 2025, the Fighting Illini swept the Bearcats, 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22). Despite the sweep, the match was closely contested, with Illinois holding narrow edges in kills (49-47) and digs (38-32).
Cincinnati holds an 8-3 all-time series advantage over Syracuse. The Bearcats swept Syracuse, 3-0, in the most recent meeting on Oct. 21, 2012.
// NOLAN LEADS THE WAY
Outside hitter Sydney Nolan returns for her senior season coming off an impressive junior campaign. Named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team after earning First Team All-Big 12 and AVCA All-Region accolades in 2025, Nolan led UC with 4.68 kills per set and a .305 hitting percentage across 26 matches.
Nolan delivered 11 matches of 20 or more kills last season, including a 25-kill performance (.481 hitting percentage) against No. 19 BYU. She set a school record with 75 attacks in a four-set match against Arizona and finished the year 12th nationally in kills per set (4.68) and 15th in attacks per set (11.87).
// THE TOMIĆ ERA
Danijela Tomić enters her second season as head coach of the Bearcats in 2026. Tomić, who holds a career NCAA record of 409-235 (.635), came to Cincinnati in December 2024 after 13 seasons at Bowling Green and seven at Florida International.
Her coaching staff returns intact for their second season: Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Zheng Xiang, Associate Head Coach Ali Cooke, and Assistant Coach Sean Drexl.
// RETURNING TALENT
Cincinnati returns nine athletes, including three key starters from a season ago. Alongside Nolan, the Bearcats bring back starting setter Andi Spies (9.44 assists per set), who posted nine double-doubles and eight 40-plus assist matches in 2025, and middle blocker Tatjana Simeunovic, who led the front line with 1.09 blocks per set and 10 matches with five or more blocks.
// FRESH FACES AND IMPACT TRANSFERS
UC welcomes six freshmen to the roster: middle blocker Julia Horan, opposite Nina Scrucca, outside hitter Malayna Boyles, setter Lily Rolfes, libero Viktoria Ninova, and right side/outside hitter Kayla Edginton. Ninova arrives in Cincinnati fresh off earning best libero honors at the 2025 U19 World Championship with the Bulgarian National Team.
The Bearcats also bolstered their lineup with three transfers: fifth-year middle blocker Audrey Rome (UConn), junior setter Kate Lijic (Miami), and junior outside hitter Andrea Simovski (Utah State). Simovski joins the program after earning 2025 Mountain West Tournament MVP honors and racking up 328 kills and 260 digs.
// GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY
Single-match tickets are $15 for courtside seating, based on availability, and $10 for general admission. Group general admission tickets are available for $5. Family 4-Packs are also available for all weekend matches (Friday through Sunday), which include four tickets and a $20 concession voucher.
Season tickets for the 2026 season are on sale, with general admission packages starting at $75 and new courtside seating options priced at $125.
To secure your spots for the upcoming season, click HERE to purchase your tickets online, or contact the Bearcats Ticket Office at 513-556-2287 today.