TicketsCINCINNATI — The Cincinnati volleyball team hits the road to begin a two-match weekend, facing UCF on Friday at 6 p.m. before returning home to host Iowa State on Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
Both matches will stream on ESPN+.
// SERIES HISTORY
UCF holds a 19-11 lead all-time over Cincinnati. The teams faced off twice last year, splitting the series 1-1 with each recording 3-0 home victories.
Iowa State owns a 6-1 all-time series lead against Cincinnati. In the last matchup, No. 22 Iowa State took down the Bearcats 3-1 inside Fifth Third Arena.
// 1,000 KILLS FOR NOLAN
Sydney Nolan surpassed 1,000 career kills against Ball State on Sept. 15, 2026.
// PERFORMING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Nolan and Kate Lijic have been among the nation’s best to start the season. Nolan has notched three 20-plus-kill matches, including 25 kills in the reverse-sweep win over Illinois for the fourth-most in a Big 12 five-set match, 23 kills against Michigan for the most in a Big 12 three-set match, and 21 kills against Xavier. Nolan ranks 34th nationally and eighth in the Big 12 in kills per set at 4.10.
Lijic ranks 39th nationally and second in the Big 12 in assists per set at 10.14, highlighted by setting her career high with 54 assists against Illinois.
// NEWCOMER IMPACT
Cincinnati has received significant contributions from its newcomers, with juniors Lijic and Andrea Simovski and freshmen Viktoria Ninova and Nina Scrucca making immediate impacts for the Bearcats.
Lijic set a career high with 54 assists against Illinois, has totaled 30 or more assists in nine contests, and ranks first in the Big 12 and 20th in the nation in assists per set at 10.48. Ninova leads Cincinnati in digs with 155 at 3.52 per set, recorded a career-best 18 against Michigan and Ball State, and has posted 10-plus digs in nine matches to rank eighth in the Big 12 in digs per set.
Simovski has posted two double-doubles with 13 kills and 13 digs against Illinois and 11 kills and 10 digs against Houston. Lijic and Scrucca lead the Bearcats in service aces with 16 apiece, while Scrucca ranks second on the team in kills with 126 at 2.86 per set while hitting a team-best .337 clip.
// CINCINNATI DIGS DEEP
Cincinnati ranks fifth in the Big 12 in digs per set at 13.41, paced by Ninova's team-leading 3.52 per set. The Bearcats recorded the most digs with 59 in a three-set match by any Big 12 team this season against Michigan on Sept. 5, 2026.
// PINPOINT ACCURACY
Cincinnati is averaging 1.86 aces per set, good for second in the Big 12 and 43rd in the nation. The Bearcats recorded 12 aces against Illinois, which stands as the second-most by a conference team this season.
Scrucca recorded five aces against Illinois for the third-most by a conference player in a single match this year. Simovski and Ninova posted four aces apiece against Syracuse, and Nolan added four aces against Houston.
// EFFICIENT ATTACKING
The Bearcats possess the seventh-highest team hitting percentage in the Big 12 and rank 47th nationally at .256.
Cincinnati has notched two of the top five most efficient attacking matches in the conference, hitting .477 with 42 kills, eight errors and 76 total attacks against Illinois on Aug. 29, 2026, and .435 with 53 kills, six errors and 108 total attacks against Ball State on Sept. 15, 2026.
The Bearcats hit .447 against Syracuse, led by Simovski with 11 kills on .500 hitting, Scrucca with nine kills on .368 hitting, six kills apiece from Nolan and Audrey Rome, and five kills on an .833 clip from Lilian Entenmann.
Against Illinois, Nolan led three Bearcats with double-digit kills by finishing with a match-high 25 kills on .345 hitting, followed by Simovski with 13 kills on .344 hitting and Scrucca with 11 kills on .409 hitting and five aces. Scrucca recorded a career-high 17 kills against Xavier while hitting an incredible .652, marking the sixth-best single-match hitting percentage by a Big 12 player this season.
// RECAPPING LAST MATCH
Cincinnati fell to Houston, 3-1, on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Fertitta Center, dropping the match after taking the opening set by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-20. Scrucca led the Bearcats with 15 kills and a .265 hitting percentage, while Nolan added 14 kills, four service aces and 18.5 points.
Simovski recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs, and Ligia Williams finished with nine kills while hitting .333. Lijic paced Cincinnati with 27 assists, and Ninova added 15 digs.
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
UCF enters the match 8-6 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 play amid a five-match losing streak, following a 3-1 loss to No. 9 TCU.
Natasha Casey boasts a dangerous serve, ranking second in the nation and first in the Big 12 with 0.76 service aces per set. Sasha Cohen anchors the defense, averaging 1.29 blocks per set, which ranks 48th nationally and third in the conference.
The Knights feature a potent attack, hitting a blistering .298 as a team—good for seventh in the nation and second in the Big 12. Avah Armour spearheads the offense, ranking ninth in the conference with 3.84 kills per set.
Iowa State enters the weekend with a 9-6 record and a 3-1 mark in Big 12 play. The Cyclones host Kansas State on Friday before traveling to face UCF. ISU had won four consecutive matches, starting 3-0 in conference play, before falling 3-1 to No. 12 Arizona State in its last outing.
Rachel Van Gorp paces the Cyclone defense, leading the Big 12 with 4.54 digs per set. She was named to the conference's starting seven for the week, marking her second consecutive weekly honor.
Offensively, Iowa State is led by the duo of Nayeli Gonzalez (181 kills) and Nayeli Ti'a (179 kills). Ava Martin orchestrates the attack with 451 assists, averaging 8.20 per set.
// 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.