TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team returns home to welcome the undefeated Ball State Cardinals (8-0) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
The match will stream on ESPN+.
Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Ball State, 9-7. The two teams met last season, when the Bearcats won a five-set battle on the road.
// PERFORMING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Sydney Nolan and Kate Lijic have been among the nation's best to start the season. Nolan already has two 20-plus-kill matches, including 25 kills in a reverse-sweep win over Illinois — the second-most in a Big 12 five-set match this season — and 23 kills against Michigan, the most in a Big 12 three-set match this season. She ranks 22nd nationally and fourth in the Big 12 in kills per set (4.25).
Lijic, meanwhile, ranks eighth nationally and first in the Big 12 in assists per set (11.23).
// NEWCOMER IMPACT
Cincinnati has received significant contributions from its newcomers, with juniors Lijic and Andrea Simovski and freshman Viktoria Ninova making an immediate impact. Lijic set a career high with 54 assists against Illinois and has totaled 30-plus assists in eight of nine matches.
Ninova leads Cincinnati in digs with 89 (3.42 digs/set) — including 18 against Michigan — and has posted double-digit digs in five matches, ranking ninth in the Big 12 in digs per set. Simovski posted a double-double against Illinois with 13 kills and 13 digs.
// LIJIC NAMED TO BIG 12 STARTING SEVEN
Lijic was named to the Big 12 Starting Seven on Sept. 8 following a strong weekend at the Popcorn Classic, where she helped lead the Bearcats to a 2-1, runner-up finish — highlighted by sweeps over Valparaiso and Oakland — and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Lijic totaled 112 assists over three matches (nine sets) during the tournament, a 12.44 assists/set clip, with 42 assists in the sweep of Valparaiso, 33 assists in the 0-3 loss to Michigan and 37 assists in the sweep of Oakland.
// CINCINNATI DIGS DEEP
Cincinnati ranks fourth in the Big 12 in digs per set (13.81), led by Ninova's team-high 3.42 digs per set. The Bearcats also recorded the most digs (59) in a three-match set in the Big 12 this season, in their match against Michigan on Sept. 5.
// PINPOINT ACCURACY
Cincinnati is averaging 2.08 aces per set, the best mark in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally. The Bearcats recorded 12 aces against Illinois, the second-most in a Big 12 match this season, with Nina Scrucca contributing five of those — also the second-most by a conference player in a match this season. Simovski added four aces against Syracuse.
// EFFICIENT ATTACKING
The Bearcats have posted three of the top 10 most efficient attacking matches in the conference this season: a .477 clip (42-8-76) against Illinois on Aug. 29, a .387 clip (47-11-93) against Morehead State on Sept. 10 and a .382 clip (40-6-89) against Oakland on Sept. 6.
Cincinnati hit a conference-best .447 against Syracuse, led by Simovski's 11 kills on .500 hitting. Scrucca added nine kills on .368 hitting, while Nolan and Audrey Rome each had six kills and Lilian Entenmann added five kills while hitting .833.
Against Illinois, Nolan led three Bearcats with double-digit kills, finishing with a match-high 25 kills on .345 hitting, while Simovski added 13 kills (.344) and Scrucca had 11 kills (.409) to go with five aces. Against Oakland, Izzy Busignani recorded 15 kills while hitting .500, marking the ninth-best hitting percentage in the Big 12 this season.
// RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
The University of Cincinnati volleyball team split the weekend in Morehead, Ky., as it took down Morehead State 3-0 and fell to the undefeated (8-0) Michigan State Spartans 0-3.
Busignani impressed, recording 19 kills (3.80 K/S) on a .302 clip over the two contests. Lijic continued to dish out assists with 62 (10.33 A/S).
// SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State enters the contest with an unblemished 8-0 record. The Cardinals finished last season 21-10 overall and 17-1 in conference play, and they've swept three of their last four opponents.
Ball State's offense is led by Ava Smith, who has racked up 99 kills (3.54 kills/set) this season, while Sophie Ledbetter anchors the defense with 141 digs (4.86 digs/set).
The Cardinals' 3-1 win over Furman on Saturday gave head coach Kelli Miller Philips her 200th career victory, making her just the second coach in program history to reach the milestone.
// 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.