By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

For the first time in school history, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team will compete in a fourth consecutive NCAA Division I Tournament. An at-large bid pits the Bearcats (23-8) against Arizona State (14-11) in Lincoln, Neb., at 6 p.m. today.

Seniors Bonita Wise and Trish Ladusaw have anchored the Bearcats from start to finish.

"You can't ask for a better ending for two seniors who have led us to this," coach Reed Sunahara said. "Because of them, this whole tradition has started."

Ladusaw, an outside hitter, and Wise, a middle hitter, have led the Bearcats to a four-year, 98-33 record. They've combined for five first-team all-Conference USA honors and have set UC records.

The women - who are team captains, roommates and best friends - sparked the Bearcats' school-best 2001 season, in which they won 16 straight matches, the C-USA tournament and an NCAA Tournament match over Xavier.

So when the team stumbled to 2-5 at this season's start, Sunahara turned to the duo for leadership. UC won 21 of its next 24 matches.

Ladusaw, UC's career digs record holder (2,054), anticipated as many on-court adjustments with five freshman newcomers.

"We've come a long way this season with a lot of young kids," Ladusaw said. "Now is the time we're peaking. We can't do anything about the regular season anymore, but hopefully we can advance in the tournament and prove ourselves in another way."

The Bearcats finished third in the C-USA tournament and third in the conference's regular-season standings. Along the way, they defeated No. 25 Colorado State, Colonial Athletic Association winner George Mason and Horizon League tournament winner Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Wise, who ranks on seven of UC's career top-10 lists, averages 3.64 kills, 2.26 digs and one block a game. She could barely watch Sunday's tournament selection show, hoping she and Ladusaw would have one last crack at the NCAAs.

"I was so scared, I couldn't look at the TV. It was pretty nerve-wracking, because we didn't win our (C-USA) tournament, and you never know what can happen," Wise said. "But the next thing I knew, everyone started clapping."

Every UC player except the freshmen has competed in an NCAA Tournament. Ladusaw and Wise hope it's only the beginning.

"It's awesome for me and Bonita to say that we accomplished something like this," Ladusaw said. "We want to leave a good impression so they can continue what we started."

E-mail srussell@enquirer.com