TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team is gearing up for the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., where it will face Valparaiso, Michigan and Oakland over three consecutive days. The Bearcats open against host Valpo on Friday at 7 p.m. inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Michigan is next, with Cincinnati facing the Wolverines on Saturday at 2 p.m., before closing out the weekend against Oakland on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will also be played inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Valpo match will stream on ESPN+. The matches against Michigan and Oakland will not be available to stream; fans can follow along via socials (GoBearcatsVB) and live stats.
// SERIES HISTORY
Valparaiso leads the all-time series 3-0. The teams last met on Nov. 17, 1996, when Valpo won a narrow 3-2 decision.
Michigan leads the all-time series 3-1. The teams last met in 2025, when Michigan won 3-1.
Cincinnati leads the all-time series 1-0 over Oakland. The teams last met on Aug. 25, 2007, when the Bearcats swept the Golden Grizzlies 3-0.
// NEWCOMER IMPACT
Cincinnati has received significant contributions from its newcomers, with juniors Kate Lijic and Andrea Simovski and freshman Viktoria Ninova making an immediate impact in their first three matches as Bearcats.
Lijic set a career high with 54 assists against Illinois, totaled 34 assists against Syracuse and 30 against Santa Clara. Lijic ranks fourth in the Big 12 in assists per set (10.73).
Ninova led Cincinnati in digs in the first two matches, recording 15 against Illinois and 14 against Syracuse. Ninova ranks eighth in the Big 12 in digs per set (3.27).
Simovski posted a double-double against Illinois with 13 kills and 13 digs.
// EFFICIENT ATTACKING
Cincinnati has hit .280 as a team through its first three matches, ranking third in the Big 12.
The Bearcats hit a conference-best .447 against Syracuse, led by Simovski’s 11 kills on .500 hitting.
Freshman Nina Scrucca added nine kills on .368 hitting, while Sydney Nolan and Audrey Rome each had six kills. Lilian Entenmann added five kills while hitting .833.
Nolan led three Bearcats with double-digit kills against Illinois, finishing with a match-high 25 kills on .345 hitting. Simovski added 13 kills (.344), while Scrucca had 11 (.409) and five aces.
// PINPOINT ACCURACY
Cincinnati is averaging 2.09 aces per set, the second-best mark in the Big 12. The Bearcats recorded 12 aces against Illinois, the most in a Big 12 match this season.
UC’s eight service aces against Syracuse are the third most in a match this year.
Scrucca and Simovski rank eighth in the Big 12 with 0.55 aces per set – Scrucca’s five aces against Illinois are the most by a conference player in a match this season. Simovski added four aces against Syracuse.
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Valparaiso kicked off the year 3-0 after topping UAB, Chattanooga and Tennessee State at last weekend's Chattanooga Classic. The Beacons closed out last season 21-9 overall (12-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play), though they fell in the conference semifinals despite entering as the No. 2 seed. Ava Helming leads Valpo in kills with 39 (3.55 per set), Mara Thomas paces the offense with 55 assists (5.30 per set), and Rylee Bumgardner tops the team defensively with 30 digs (2.73 per set).
Michigan enters the tournament with a record of 3-1. Jenna Hanes leads Michigan in hitting efficiency at .538 this season, and her error-free, 14-kill performance against South Carolina (.737) ranks third-best in program history for a single match. Cymarah Gordon paces the team in kills (49, 3.27 per set), while Morgan Burke has posted back-to-back double-doubles and leads U-M with 99 assists. Freshman libero Meredith Martin has 50 digs and became the first freshman libero to start Michigan's season opener since 2012, and Ece Senyapici is averaging 1.07 blocks per set on a .327 hitting clip.
Oakland comes into the classic boasting a 2-2 record. Molly Reck leads the Golden Grizzlies in kills with 59 (3.93 per set), Delaney Stern directs the offense with 145 assists (9.67 per set), and Kalli Cook paces the defense with 66 digs (4.40 per set).
// LAST TIME OUT
UC dropped its home opener to Santa Clara 3-0 on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Santa Clara hit .308 as a team and held the Bearcats to .177. The Broncos also led in kills (42-37), digs (46-44) and blocks (8-3).
Nolan notched a double-double, leading Cincinnati with 12 kills and 12 digs. Lijic tallied 30 assists — she has reached 30 or more assists in all three matches this season. Ava Ledebuhr added 16 digs, one shy of a career best.
// 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.