TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team heads to Morehead, Ky., for a pair of matches this week, opening against host Morehead State on Thursday at 5 p.m. inside Johnson Arena.
The Bearcats will face Michigan State on Friday at 4 p.m. Both matches will stream on ESPN+.
Cincinnati enters the week at 4-2 following a 2-1 showing at the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. The Bearcats swept both Valparaiso and Oakland while falling to Michigan in three sets.
// SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati leads the all-time series against Morehead State, 19-6. The Bearcats won both meetings in 2024, earning 3-1 victories on Sept. 19 and Sept. 21.
Michigan State leads the all-time series, 7-2-1. The teams last met on Sept. 6, 2019, when the Spartans won 3-1.
// LIJIC RUNNING THE OFFENSE
Junior setter Kate Lijic enters the weekend leading the Big 12 and ranking third nationally with 11.50 assists per set.
Lijic was named to the Big 12 Starting Seven on Tuesday after earning All-Tournament honors at the Popcorn Classic. She totaled 112 assists over nine sets, averaging 12.44 assists per set across the tournament.
Lijic recorded 42 assists in Cincinnati's sweep of Valparaiso, 33 against Michigan and 37 in the sweep of Oakland.
She has recorded at least 30 assists in all six matches this season, including a career-high 54 assists in Cincinnati's reverse-sweep victory over Illinois to open the season.
// NOLAN PROVIDING THE FIREPOWER
Senior outside hitter Sydney Nolan has been one of the nation's top offensive weapons through the first two weeks of the season.
Nolan ranks 17th nationally and third in the Big 12 with 4.44 kills per set. She has already recorded two 20-plus-kill performances, totaling 25 kills against Illinois and 23 against Michigan.
Nolan earned All-Tournament honors at the Popcorn Classic after recording 37 kills and hitting .357 across seven sets. She posted 23 kills on a .333 hitting percentage against Michigan.
// NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT
Cincinnati's newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first six matches, with juniors Lijic and Andrea Simovski and freshman Viktoria Ninova contributing across the court.
Lijic leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally in assists per set, while Simovski has provided a consistent offensive and defensive presence.
Simovski recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs in Cincinnati's season-opening win over Illinois.
Ninova has emerged as a key defensive piece, leading Cincinnati with 72 digs while averaging 3.60 digs per set. She has reached double figures in four matches and ranks seventh in the Big 12 in digs per set.
// SERVING AS A WEAPON
Cincinnati enters the weekend leading the Big 12 and ranking 17th nationally with 2.30 service aces per set.
The Bearcats have been particularly effective from the service line early in the season, recording 12 aces against Illinois - the second-most in a Big 12 match this season.
Freshman Nina Scrucca leads Cincinnati with nine aces and recorded five against Illinois, the second-most by a Big 12 player in a match this season.
Simovski added four aces against Syracuse.
// EFFICIENT ATTACK
Cincinnati is hitting .262 as a team this season, ranking fifth in the Big 12.
The Bearcats have posted a pair of particularly efficient offensive performances, hitting .447 against Syracuse and .382 in Sunday's sweep of Oakland.
Sophomore Izzy Busignani turned in a career performance against Oakland, recording 15 kills on .500 hitting. The mark was the eighth-best hitting percentage in the Big 12 in a match this season.
Nolan, meanwhile, has continued to anchor the outside attack, while Simovski and Scrucca have provided additional offensive options.
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Morehead State enters with a 4-2 record and has been one of the Ohio Valley Conference's more efficient teams early in the season, ranking third in kills (11.50/set) and hitting percentage (.210). The Eagles have also limited opponents to a .192 hitting percentage, second-best in the OVC.
Senior outside hitter Hollan Everett leads Morehead State with 88 kills (3.67/set) while hitting .277. She earned OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors after recording 45 kills on .394 hitting across three matches at the Mercyhurst Invitational.
Senior setter Sydney Sennett directs the Morehead State offense after earning All-OVC First Team honors last season. She enters the weekend with 2,146 career assists after averaging 10.18 assists per set in 2025.
Freshman Ella Warrick has made an immediate impact from the service line, leading the OVC with 13 aces. She has also added 33 kills and 27 digs through the Eagles' first two weekends.
Michigan State enters the contest with an unblemished 6-0 record.
The Spartans went 18-12 last season, including a perfect 10-0 mark in non-conference play, under head coach Kristen Kelsay. A former Spartan setter, Kelsay returned to East Lansing last season after recording 3,040 career assists from 2010-13.
Senior Alanna Bankston leads Michigan State with 3.53 kills per set, 10th-best in the Big Ten. Bankston is in her first season with the Spartans after spending her first three collegiate seasons at Louisville.
Senior Karlina Stanszewska gives Michigan State another strong offensive option, averaging 3.39 kills per set. She earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors last season after leading the Spartans with 349 kills.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long runs the Spartan offense, averaging 9.87 assists per set, seventh-best in the Big Ten. She also leads Michigan State with 13 service aces, third-most in the conference.
// 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.