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Women's Volleyball News & Awards


Cougars Reach Final Four at USCAA Nationals

November 7, 2009 – Louisville, Kentucky    In a season of historical accomplishments, the UC Clermont volleyball team added another page to their history books.  For the first time, the Cougars reached the Final Four at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship Tournament.

The Cougars qualified for the November 5 – 7 event as the number five seed based upon an outstanding 22-3 regular season record.  They have been included in the tournament field the past three years, but have finished no higher than fifth place (2008).

Competition began on November 5th with two rounds of “best two-out-of-three” preliminary pool play.  Clermont faced a familiar foe in round one – Ohio State University-Marion from the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Cougars controlled play and swept the Scarlet Wave 25-13, 25-20.  Clermont finished the day undefeated by also sweeping Penn State University-Mont Alto 25-10, 25-21.

Pool play continued on Friday morning with rounds three and four.  Clermont battled two strong teams - #1 Spalding University (20-25, 24-26) & #3 Robert Morris-Springfield (18-25, 25-22, 18-25), but were not quite able to pull out wins.  The results left the Cougars third in their pool and set up a quarterfinal match with #4 Rochester College.

The Friday evening quarterfinals provided one of the highlights of the 2009 season.  Rochester got off to a fast start by taking the first set 25-15.  At this point, the “experts” had Rochester walking away with the contest.  No one, however, told the Cougars.

Clermont roared back into the match by winning the next two sets 25-23 & 25-15.  After Rochester settled down to take set four 25-15, the nail-biting drama began.  Rochester grabbed the early lead in set five, but Clermont was able to recover and fight back to a 12-12 tie.  At this point, some potent offense, great hustle and a key solo block from Sarah Shumate allowed the Cougars to take the final three points for the 15-12 victory.  Pandemonium broke out on the floor and in the stands as Clermont moved on to the Final Four on Saturday.

Semi-final action proved to be quite a learning experience for the Cougars as the teams turned up the intensity and level of play.  Clermont earned a rematch with Spalding University.  Even thought Clermont fought hard, Spalding proved why they were the defending national champs as they took the Cougars 25-15, 25-19, 25-20.  UC Clermont then completed their 25-7 season with a Consolation Game loss to Southern Virginia University.

Senior middle hitter Kelley Koons finished her outstanding UC Clermont career by being named to the All-Tournament Team.  A few Cougars were also honored during the tournament banquet.  Koons was selected USCAA First Team All-American, while sophomore setter Lauren Bradford and junior outside hitter Erica Hoctor received USCAA Honorable Mention All-American awards.

“I am extremely happy with this group of players and their accomplishments this season,” said Head Coach Joe Harpring.  “Even though they are a little disappointed at the moment with the semi-final loss, hopefully they will be able to look back on what they achieved this season with a great amount of pride.  They will always be known as the only team to win two conferences in the same year, the first Clermont team to win the Ohio Regional Campus State Tournament and the first Clermont team to make the USCAA Final Four.  No one can take that away from them.”

 

 

Cougars Claim Multiple OCAC Awards

October 27, 2009, Circleville, Ohio   The Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) announced their first-ever volleyball post-season awards and UC Clermont team members were quite prevalent on this list.

The just-completed regular season was the first competition sponsored by this new conference.  UC Clermont was a provisional member of the OCAC for 2009, while also competing in the Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC).  The Cougars went undefeated and won the 2009 regular season title in both leagues – a rare achievement in sports.

The following Cougars received awards:

First Team All-Conference
Kelley Koons, a senior middle hitter from Miamisburg H.S.
Lauren Bradford, a sophomore setter/outside hitter from Norwood H.S.

Second Team All-Conference
Cindy Votel, a sophomore libero from Bellevue (KY) H.S.
Jaci Stewart, a junior outside hitter from Blanchester H.S.
Rachel Hays, a freshman middle hitter from Amelia H.S.

Player of the Year
Kelley Koons

Coach of the Year
Joe Harpring

 

 

STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Cougars also receive bid to USCAA National Tournament

October 25, 2009 – Newark, Ohio    With a three game win over Ohio University-Lancaster in the finals, the UC Clermont volleyball team captured the championship of the Ohio Regional Campus State Tournament.

This victory made history as it represents the first ever State Championship for the UC Clermont volleyball program.  The Cougars reached the championship match in 2001, but lost to Miami-Middletown in that contest.  Clermont has also not participated in the event the last three years as it coincided with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

Clermont entered the tournament as the number one seed – a reward for an undefeated season in Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) play.  They faced Ohio State University-Lima – a team they had beaten twice during the regular season.  The Cougars continued this trend with a 25-10, 25-12, 25-20 sweep of the Barons.  This victory propelled the Cougars into the semi-finals the next day.

Clermont’s semi-final opponent was Ohio State University-Newark.  Until recently, the Titans had dominated the eastern division of the ORCC by winning six consecutive regular season titles – a streak broken this year by Ohio University – Lancaster.  Newark was still quite a force as the match was a high-paced, intense affair.  Clermont’s blocking made the difference early as the Cougars took the first game 25-17.  After a thrilling 29-27 second game win, Newark turned the tables 18-25.  Game four saw Clermont resume control as the the Cougars finshed off the Titans 25-17.  Clermont hit a stellar .330 for the contest and recorded 60 digs.

With this victory, Clermont advanced to the championship match against a team they had faced and defeated early in the year – number two seeded Ohio University-Lancaster.  The contest proved to be worthy of a championship match as the teams exchanged leads often.  Game one went extra points before Clermont prevailed 27-25.  Propelled by 11 service aces, the Cougars took game two 25-19 and held on for a 25-23 game three win. 

Two Clermont players received awards during post game ceremonies.  Senior Kelley Koons was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.  Sophomore Lauren Bradford was also named to the All-Tournament team. 

“Even though only two players received awards, all nine members of our rotation had an exceptional tournament and allowed us to make history” said Clermont Head Coach Joe Harpring.  “The team saved some of their best volleyball of the year for this contest.  I’m very proud of these kids and the way they came together as a team to achieve their goal.”

On the heels of this outstanding accomplishment came more exciting news.   UC Clermont received a bid to their fourth consecutive United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship Tournament.  The Cougars will travel to Louisville, Kentucky this year to face nine of the outstanding USCAA volleyball programs in the country.  Play starts on Thursday, November 5 with the final rounds set for November 7.

 

 

Cougars Make History – Twice!

October 12, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    The UC Clermont volleyball team has accomplished something rare in the history of sport.  In the space of a week, the Cougars have clinched regular season championships in two different conferences.  Clermont finished undefeated in the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) with a win over Southern State Community College and clinched no worse than a co-championship (with two conference games remaining) in the Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) by defeating Miami University-Middletown.

To add to the excitement of the week, UC Clermont honored graduating senior Kelley Koons during the annual Volleyball Tailgate Party on Monday, October 12.  During pre-game festivities, school officials unveiled a banner with a replica of Koons’ number 17 jersey to hang permanently from the rafters of the Student Activity Center.

The week of celebration started on Wednesday as the Cougars faced their final OCAC opponent - Southern State.  Clermont got off to a fast start and wrapped up the first game by a 25-9 score.  Southern State showed some resilience and made games 2 and 3 tighter, but the Cougars still prevailed 25-15, 25-19.  Clermont registered a .393 hitting percentage for the match, with two hitters reaching double figures in kills.  The defense also chipped in with 33 digs.

UC Clermont next traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for a weekend tri-match featuring two NCAA Division III teams from the Heartland Conference.  This event was scheduled to help the team prepare for a possible bid to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship tournament.  The Cougars learned much from this high level competition – even though they were swept in both matches.  Clermont hung with the first challenger, Defiance College, for a game (22-25) before succumbing to a strong attack in games 2 and 3 (13-25, 14-25).  In match two, the Cougars made a better showing and were in the contest the entire way before bowing 19-25, 20-25, 23-25 to Transylvania University.

Next up was Miami-Middletown and the annual Volleyball Tailgate Party.  A full house enjoyed free food and a contest against the team immediately behind UC Clermont in the ORCC standings.  Clermont started with an early run in game 1.  Middletown recovered, but could not quite catch up as the Cougars prevailed 25-22.  The talented Thunderhawks were able to turn the tables with a 25-23 win in game 2 before Clermont regained momentum with a 25-22 game 3 triumph.  Game 4 was a dandy as Clermont needed extra time before taking the match with a 29-27 victory.

With this win, UC Clermont established a two game lead over Middletown with two conference games remaining.  A win in either of the remaining matches clinches the outright title.  By guaranteeing at least a co-championship with Wednesday’s victory, UC Clermont extends their ORCC championship streak to six consecutive seasons.

  

 

Koons Named USCAA National Player of the Week

October 6, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    For the third consecutive week, a member of the number three ranked UC Clermont volleyball team has received national recognition.

Senior middle hitter Kelley Koons (Miamisburg High School) was named the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week for the period September 28 – October 4.

During this period, Koons hit at a .380 percentage as she recorded 40 kills in three matches.  She also registered 9 service aces, 18 digs, 7 blocks and 5 block assists as UC Clermont defeated Ohio Regional Campus Conference opponents Ohio State University-Lima and Ohio University Chillicothe, as well as NCAA Division II foe Central State University.

With this award, Koons has now received USCAA National Player of the Week honors in all four of her collegiate seasons.

 

 

Cougars Reach 15 Wins; Number 3 in Country

October 4, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    With a three match sweep during the week, the UC Clermont Cougars ran their record to 15-1 on the season.  The win total has also helped the Cougars achieve a number three national ranking in both the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Coaches’ Poll and the USCAA Power Rankings.

UC Clermont started a four game homestand on Tuesday with a rare non-conference contest.  Central State University, an NCAA Division-II program, provided the opposition.  The Marauders have a new coach and have shown definite improvement this season.  Clermont used 43 kills, a .330 hitting percentage and 10 service aces to capture the match in three games (25-15, 25-9, 25-18) – the second win over an NCAA D-II program in two years.  Individually, five different Cougars registered aces and six different hitters recorded kills to pace the balanced attack.

Clermont then moved on to a weekend of hosting Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) foes.

On Saturday, the Ohio State University-Lima Barons came to the Cougardome.  Clermont continued their torrid hitting with 36 kills and added a solid 38 digs from their defense.  The combination helped the Cougars sweep in three games 25-11, 25-7, 25-18.  Five different players recorded at least five kills in the match.

Sunday featured a re-match with Ohio University-Chillicothe.  The first contest between these teams at Chillicothe was a close one.  Sunday’s meeting proved quite similar.  Clermont prevailed in three games – 25-17, 25-17, 25-15.  Though the Chillicothe defense slowed Clermont’s hitting a bit, the Cougar setters still contributed 39 assists.  Clermont’s defense added 33 digs in the winning effort.

With these wins, UC Clermont raised their ORCC record to 5-0 with three important matches in this conference remaining.

Up next is a crucial match against Southern State Community College – the 19th ranked team in the latest USCAA coaches’ poll.  This contest will decide the first ever athletic championship in the history of the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) – Clermont’s other conference this season.  The Cougars then take a Saturday trip to Lexington, Kentucky to face two NCAA Division III programs - Defiance College and Transylvania University.

 

 

Rachel Hays Named USCAA Co-Player of Week

September 29, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio   For the second consecutive week, a member of the number three ranked UC Clermont volleyball team received national recognition.  Rachel Hays, a freshman middle hitter from Amelia High School, was named United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Co-Player of the Week for the period September 20-26, 2009.

During the week, Hays hit at a remarkable .455 percentage as UC Clermont defeated two Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) foes.  Hays recorded 26 kills to go with 9 blocks and 5 block assists.  The wins gave UC Clermont an early lead in the ORCC regular season race.

 

  

Cougars Battle to Early Lead in ORCC

September 26, 2009 – Hamilton, Ohio    The UC Clermont volleyball team wrapped up a grueling week of high-level competition with a two-match sweep of Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) foes.  These wins give the Cougars an early one game lead in ORCC regular season standings with plenty of volleyball left to be played.

First up for the Cougars was a mid-week trip to Miami University-Middletown for what turned out to be the match of the season so far.  The talented Thunderhawks were well-prepared and came out with a strong attack and stifling defense.  Middletown was able to keep Clermont off-balance and pull out the first two games 25-20 & 25-23. 

At that point, the momentum started to shift ever so slightly.  The Cougars were able to settle their service reception and begin attacking more effectively.  Games three and four were tight affairs as Clermont inched back into the contest by 25-23 & 26-24 scores.  The match would come down to a fifth and deciding game.

Game five also proved to be a tight contest up to the 8-7 crossover.  At that point, Clermont’s front row took control of the net.  Three key blocks stopped Middletown’s outstanding hitters and led to game point.  After a timeout, Clermont was able to finish the match with a kill and take game five 15-11.

“Middletown was certainly the talented team we expected them to be and gave us all we could handle,” said UC Clermont Head Coach Joe Harpring. “We feel fortunate to pull out the win. We host the Thunderhawks on Monday, October 12 for our annual Volleyball Tailgate Party.  The huge expected crowd will get free food and should see another great volleyball match.”

On Saturday, the Cougars traveled to Miami University-Hamilton to renew another long-time rivalry with the Harriers.  In spite of fielding a team of mostly freshman, the Harriers served well and battled to the end in every game.  Late runs in each of the three sets led UC Clermont to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 sweep.

“Serving and net play made the difference for us in this contest against a team which always gives us trouble,” said Coach Harpring.  The Cougars registered 17 service aces in the match, recorded 13 solo blocks, nine block assists and hit at a high .370 percentage. 

The Cougars start a four game homestand next week and get a brief break from conference play.  NCAA Division II program Central State University comes to the Cougardome on Tuesday, September 29 for a 6:00 start.  Clermont then hosts two Ohio Regional Campus Conference schools during the weekend – Ohio State University–Lima on Saturday and Ohio University–Chillicothe on Sunday.  Game time for both contests is 1:00.

 

 

Bradford Named USCAA Setter of the Week

September 22, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    Lauren Bradford, one of UC Clermont talented setting duo, earned national recognition today.   Bradford was named the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Setter of the Week for the period September 13 – 20.

Bradford, a sophomore from Norwood High School, earned this award for her performance in three Cougar wins last week.  She registered 53 assists, 10 kills and 17 digs to help Clermont defeat three difficult foes – including the 5th ranked team in the nation, Ohio State University-Marion.  This award marks Bradford’s second selection in two years.  She also earned this honor on September 26, 2008 during her freshman season.

 

 

Cougars Take the Lead in OCAC

September 20, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    Thanks to a sweep of the matches in the annual Cougar Classic, UC Clermont now sits on top of the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) standings.  The Cougars have a one game lead over Ohio State University-Marion with one conference match to play.  Clermont will host Southern State Community College on Wednesday, October 7 to decide the first-ever regular season title in this new conference.

Clermont started the week of competition by traveling to Ohio University-Chillicothe.  The contest represented the opening of Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) play.  Clermont struggled in the first set as Chillicothe checked the Cougars with some timely blocks, several good digs and an effective transition game.  In spite of the tough challenge, Clermont was able to eek out a 26-24 first game win.  The Cougars then turned up the heat with some tough serving and an improved transition attack to take the next two games 25-13 & 25-16.  For the match, UC Clermont recorded 14 service aces, 30 digs and 35 kills.

UC Clermont next hosted the annual Cougar Classic on Sunday, September 20.   This year’s event featured teams from the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC).  A large crowd attended the three contests – enhanced by several local high school and Junior Olympic volleyball players from the Greater Miami Volleyball Club.

Clermont opened the Classic with a 25-12, 25-13, 25-8 sweep of Clark State Community College.  As a team, the Cougars totaled 17 service aces along with 24 kills and 21digs.  With the win, the Cougars raised their conference record to 5-0.

Ohio State Marion, the sixth ranked team nationally in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), won the second match of the day over Clark State by a similar 3-0 game score.  This win set up a showdown between the two remaining undefeated OCAC teams.

The greatly anticipated finale of the Cougar Classic did not disappoint the large and enthusiastic crowd.  Game one was a tight contest with several lead changes.  UC Clermont used a late run to pull out the first game 25-23.

In game two, OSU-Marion used solid defense and effective placement of hits to control the set by a lopsided 25-13 score.  Game three saw Clermont start on an 8-0 run, before the Scarlet Wave pulled back into the contest.  A late Cougar run sealed the third game 25-20.  Another late run in game four (after several momentum shifts) clinched the set and the match for Clermont with a 25-21 victory.

For the match, UC Clermont received serve at a .859 percentage and registered 56 digs to provide the difference in the contest.

Up next for the Cougars are two tough ORCC foes – the Miami University branch campuses.  Clermont will travel to Miami University-Middletown on Wednesday to face the always tough Thunderhawks.  On Saturday, the Cougars renew their series with the Harriers of Miami-Hamilton.  Both teams are doing well in early season play.  The Cougars are looking forward to the outstanding competition.

 

 

UC Clermont at Top of OCAC Standings

 September 12, 2009 – Circleville, Ohio    At the midway point of the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) schedule, the UC Clermont volleyball team sits at the top of the standings.  Due to a sweep of this week’s matches, the Cougars have raised their conference record to 4-0 and are neck-and-neck with Ohio State University-Marion.  Clermont’s overall record now stands at 7-1.

The Cougars started the week by traveling to OCAC foe Clark State Community College.  This match represented the home opener for Clark State and their first official match since re-starting their volleyball program.  Clermont battled the home side in game one and nosed ahead to win 25-17.  The Cougar offense stayed in high gear and overcame a stubborn Clark State defense to take the next two games 25-16, 25-12 and win the match.  Clermont hit at a high .294 percentage and spread the offense around.  Four different Cougars registered at least seven kills. 

On Saturday, UC Clermont traveled to Ohio Christian University.  The Trailblazers came into the contest undefeated in OCAC play with an earlier five set win over Ohio State University-Mansfield.  Clermont had to scrap for every point as Ohio Christian put on the pressure with tenacious defense and an consistent transition game.  Thanks to 21 service aces and an effective attack away from a strong Trailblazer middle block, Clermont registered a 25-15, 25-17, 25-8 win.  The Cougars have now recorded wins against four of the five OCAC volleyball members.

Next up for the Cougars is the start of Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) play.  Clermont will begin the week by traveling to Ohio University-Chillicothe – one of the top contenders in the ORCC.  On Sunday, the team returns home to host the annual Cougar Classic.  This event will feature a re-match with Clark State as well as a visit by rival Ohio State University-Marion.  Both contests are OCAC matches and should play a huge role in deciding the regular season title. Clermont will play at 11:00 AM and approximately 3:00 PM.

 

 

Cougars Sweep UCC Volleyfest

 

September 5, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio    The UC Clermont Cougars hosted the inaugural UCC Volleyfest on Saturday, September 5 and turned the event into a successful venture.  The Cougars swept both of their matches 3-0 to run their overall record to 5-1 on the season.

Clermont opened play with Ohio University-Lancaster – one of the top programs in the East Division of the Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) and a team they had not faced in several years.  This match was added to the schedule to help gage where the Cougars stand in relation to the other half of the ORCC and to provide a good early test.

UC Clermont used strong net and floor defense to take the first two games 25-13 & 25-16.  OU-Lancaster rebounded with some outstanding defense and hustle of their own to make game three a thriller.  Clermont eventually pulled out a 28-26 win on a match winning tip.  In this contest, the Cougars racked up a total of 11 blocks and 48 digs to aid in the victory.

In Clermont’s second match of the day, Ohio State University-Mansfield provided the opposition.  The Mavericks were the second member of the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) Clermont has faced in 2009 and the first they have hosted in the Cougardome.  The Cougar offense came to life in this contest.  Six different hitters recorded a total of 32 kills in the 25-13, 25-9, 25-12 sweep.  Clermont’s setters added 29 assists to go with nine service aces from the team.  With the win, the Cougars have an early 2-0 record in the OCAC.

In the upcoming week, UC Clermont takes on two more opponents from the OCAC.  On Wednesday, the Cougars travel to Springfield, Ohio to face Clark State Community College.  Saturday, Clermont travels to Columbus to play Ohio Christian University.  The week of tough competition should provide a good reading on the Cougars’ chances in OCAC play.

 

 

 

UC Clermont Starts Season on Successful Note

 

August 29, 2009 – Pittsburgh, PA The UC Clermont volleyball team began the 2009 campaign with a successful week of competition.

The Cougars opened the season at Southern State Community College.  Southern State is a member of the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) and the event marked the first-ever athletic competition in the history of this conference.  Clermont celebrated the occasion with a 25-13, 25-11, 25-16 sweep over an improved Patriot squad.  As a team, the Cougars registered a .333 hitting percentage and recorded 11 service aces in the contest.

UC Clermont next traveled to Pittsburgh, PA to participate in the Penn State-Beaver Classic tournament.  The event featured six United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) teams.  Clermont was placed in a strong pool with Rochester College and Penn State-Fayette.  The three teams in this pool were the programs which played in the USCAA National Championships in 2008.

The Cougars got off to a strong start against Rochester – dominating in a 25-18 first game win.  Rochester then recovered to win the next three games 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 and take the match.

In the second round of pool play, Clermont jumped out to a two games to none lead against a talented Penn State-Fayette team.  Fayette recovered to take game three before Clermont wrapped up the match with a game four victory.  The score was 25-14, 25-14, 26-28, 25-21.With a 1-1 record in pool play, UC Clermont qualified for the third place match and faced host Penn State-Beaver.  Thanks to 14 service aces and a defensive adjustment which slowed a potent Beaver outside attack and resulted in 25 team digs, the Cougars swept this contest 26-24, 25-15, 25-14.

Clermont next opens the home portion of the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5 by hosting the inaugural UCC Volleyfest.  The Cougars will face Ohio University-Lancaster (one of the top programs in the Ohio Regional Campus Conference East Division) and Ohio State University-Mansfield (a contender for the first-ever OCAC title).

 

 

 

 

UC Clermont Begins 2009 Volleyball Campaign

 

August 10, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio  The UC Clermont Cougars volleyball squad has been hard at work during August in preparation for the 2009 campaign.  They begin their quest for conference and national success on Tuesday, August 25 with a 6:00 match at Southern State Community College.

The Cougars ended the 2008 season with a successful run at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship tournament.  Clermont won an exciting five set match over Robert Morris-Springfield in the 5th place game.  The team also achieved an historic first last season - a number one national ranking for two weeks in the USCAA coaches’ poll.  This season, the Cougars will be attempting to qualify for the tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2009 schedule shapes up to be the toughest in the history of the UC Clermont volleyball program.  The Cougars will actually be playing in two conferences this year.  Not only will the team be competing for another Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) title, but they will also be provisional members of the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC).

In 2008, the ORCC enjoyed a banner year competition-wise.  The season featured the highest level of play seen in quite some time.  In spite of this challenge, the Cougars still prevailed for their 5th consecutive conference championship.

2009 should be another tough year in the ORCC.  Miami-Middletown won the 2008 ORCC sponsored state tournament (UC Clermont did not compete as the tournament conflicted with the USCAA National Championship event) and has added several quality recruits.  Miami-Hamilton and Ohio University-Chillicothe fielded strong squads and should remain at the same high level in 2009.  Ohio State-Lima had a team of talented freshman who are expected to improve in 2009 with the year of experience.

The new OCAC is closely aligned with the high athletic and academic standards of the USCAA.  In fact, most OCAC members belong to the USCAA.  This conference is filled with programs with a history of success.  The Cougars will be challenged in every match and should benefit from the experience.

The 2009 schedule features two home tri-matches.  The Cougar Classic returns on Sunday, September 20, but has evolved into an OCAC event.  New this year is the UCC Volleyfest (Saturday, September 5) featuring teams from both the OCAC and ORCC.  NCAA Division II opponent Central State University will also be visiting the Cougardome.  The Cougars will travel to play NCAA Division III foes Transylvania University and Defiance College.

This year’s team features a blend of experienced players with a few newcomers.  Senior middle hitter and two time ORCC Most Valuable Player Kelley Koons (Miamisburg H.S.) returns for her final season and joins junior outside hitter Jaci Stewart (Blanchester) and junior libero Erica Hoctor (Turpin) to provide a wealth of leadership.  Junior middle hitter Lynn Abbinante (Western Brown) will be helping with the team but will be sitting out this season as a “red shirt” year.  Back for their sophomore year with the Cougars are outside hitter Sarah Shumate (Lawrence County, Tennessee), defensive specialist Cindy Votel (Bellevue, Kentucky) and setter Lauren Bradford (Norwood).  Each of these players has shown definite improvement as a result of the year of experience.  Newcomers to the team include middle hitter Rachel Hays (Amelia), setter Courtney Davis (Western Brown) and outside hitter Rachel Ferguson (Norwood).  Each freshman garnered several awards during her high school career and possesses valuable club volleyball experience.

UC Clermont plays all home games at the Student Activity Center or “Cougardome” on campus.  The full 2009 schedule and additional information about the team can be found at www.ucclermont.edu.

 

 

UC Clermont Volleyball Signs Western Brown Setter

May 6, 2009 – Mt. Orab, Ohio  The UC Clermont volleyball team has signed another outstanding player for the 2009 season.  Courtney Davis, a 5’7” setter from Western Brown High School, has agreed to join the Cougars this autumn.

Davis has been the primary setter for Coach Heather Cooper’s Bronco varsity the last three seasons.  She was the team’s Most Valuable Player this past year.  Davis also earned Second Team – Southern Buckeye Conference (SBC) honors in 2006 and First Team – SBC honors in 2007 & 2008.  In addition, she was named Honorable Mention All-City by the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2008. 

Davis holds Western Brown school records in several categories.  She has the most assists both in a season and a career, as well as the most service aces in a career.

Besides her four years of high school experience, Davis also has an equal amount of Junior Olympic club volleyball experience.  She has played for Greater Miami VBC, Lineshot VBC and Brown County VBC.

Davis also strives to succeed in the classroom.  She is a member of the National Honor Society at her high school.

Clermont Head Coach Joe Harpring has pursued Davis for two years and is excited to add her to the Cougar squad.  “Courtney has run a very potent Western Brown offense for the past three years,” said Harpring.  “She has also gained valuable experience setting a multiple offense with her club teams and is comfortable using audibles during play.  She will be a fantastic addition and I’m absolutely thrilled to be getting such a good kid from a great family.”

 

2009 Spring Volleyball Round Robin a Success

 

April 4, 2009 – Richmond, Indiana   The UC Clermont volleyball team finished spring practice with their participation in the Earlham College Invitational.  The event featured a round robin format with matches against several regional NCAA Division III programs.  In addition to host Earlham, opponents included Principia College (IL), Hanover College (IN) and Blufton University (OH).

The Cougars fared quite well in this spring event with an overall game record of 6-8.  Clermont got off to a slow start against Principia as they dusted off the cobwebs from the off-season.  They found their game, however, during the matches against Hanover and Blufton – at one point winning five of seven games.  

UC Clermont’s results show the continued growth of the volleyball program.  The Cougars went head-to-head with two respected members of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) and more than held their own.

The Cougars got an extra special treat during the tournament.  Members of the Greater Miami Volleyball Club (GMVC) U-14s team made the trip to Richmond to cheer on the Cougars.  Current Clermont players Jaci Stewart, Lynn Abbinante and Erica Hoctor coach teams for the GMVC and the Clermont program has forged an informal partnership with the club.  The U-14s made signs and rooted loudly for their favorite players.  They were also able to have dinner with the team after conclusion of the day’s action.

The Cougars now prepare for the start of the 2009 campaign.  The coming season will see the Cougars compete simultaneously in two conferences.  UC Clermont has joined the new Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC) as a provisional member in 2009.  All members of the OCAC have national affiliations with either the USCAA or the NCCAA.  Clermont will also battle for another Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) title this year with their traditional strong conference foes.

 

Amelia Three Sport Star to Join UC Clermont Volleyball Squad

March 31, 2009 – Batavia, Ohio  The UC Clermont volleyball team has gained the services of an outstanding local prep player.  Rachel Hays, a 5’11” middle hitter from Amelia High School, has committed to the Cougars for the upcoming season.

Hays is one of the top senior volleyball players in Clermont County.  She has won numerous awards during her high school career.  Among her many accolades, Hays has been named First Team – Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC), Honorable Mention All-City, FAVC Player of the Week, Amelia High School Best Offensive Player and Best Blocker.  She finished in the top ten in the city in blocking average during her junior year and followed that with a top five finish in the same statistic her senior year.  Hays also finished third in the FAVC in this category in 2008.

Obviously blocking is one of her strengths, but Hays also possesses incredible hitting power, a challenging jump serve and a vertical jump of 21 inches.  In addition to her three years of experience with the Amelia varsity, she has also played Junior Olympic club volleyball for both Lineshot VBC and ME Lyons VBC.

Hays also brings excellent academic credentials to UC Clermont.  She has earned a total of 10 academic awards during her high school years – including five FAVC All-Conference Academic Awards, four Amelia High School Baron Top Scholar Awards and one Amelia High School Outstanding Academic Excellence Award (for a GPA in the 3.50-3.99 range).

When not achieving on the high school volleyball court, Hays was busy earning honors with the Amelia basketball and softball squads.  Her awards included Most Improved Player (both sports), Most Valuable Player (softball), FAVC Second Team and FAVC Player of the Week (softball).

Clermont Head Coach Joe Harpring is excited to add Rachel Hays to the team for 2009.  “We need a talented middle hitter to replace the graduating Lynn Abbinante and Rachel certainly fills that need,” said Harpring.  “She is already a strong player and has the potential to be even better.  She also possesses a great passion for the game of volleyball.” 

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