University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Volleyball Earns First Big East Victory
10/10/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Pittsburgh Volleyball Earns First Big East Victory
10/10/1999
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Marcia Thiesen |
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh captured its first Big East Conference victory of the season as it defeated St. John's, 3-1, Sunday, Oct. 10 at Alumni Hall. The Panthers had four players record double-digit figures in kills and digs to help spark the victory.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Panthers and evened their record at 7-7 overall (1-3 Big East).
St. John's opened the match with a 15-11 win in game one. But Pittsburgh rebounded to take games two and three with 15-6 and 15-11 decisions, respectively. The Panthers took the fourth and final game, 16-14, for the match victory.
Junior outside hitter Marcia Thiesen (Chatham, Ontario/John MacGregor) led all hitters with her career- high 18 kills and added 10 digs, a season-high six blocks and three aces. The match marked Thiesen's third- straight double-double performance and her fourth of the season. Freshman Tari Boutin (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) posted a new career mark in kills with 17 to go along with her 10 digs.
Senior middle hitter Peggy Meinhart (Newton, Ill./Newton) was solid for Pittsburgh as she recorded her second-best offensive performance of the season, a .424 hitting efficiency with 16 kills on 33 attempts.
Junior Stacy Renick (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) and senior Jenna Birkel (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X) also had double-digit kills and digs. Renick had 12 kills, 11 digs and a season-high five blocks, while Birkel had 11 kills and 10 digs.
Freshman setter Carrie Norris (Fostoria, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon) was also impressive with her second- straight double-double performance and third of the year with a career-high 63 assists and 15 digs.
In earlier conference action this weekend, the Panthers dropped a tough 3-2 decision to Connecticut on Oct. 9 at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
Despite falling 15-8 and 15-6 in the initial two games, the Panthers rallied to win games three and four to force a decisive game. After a 15-13 win in game three, Pittsburgh forced the host Huskies to just eight kills and .079 hitting in game four for a 15-4 win. The Panthers, however, were dominated in the final game and ultimately fell, 15-10.
The senior duo of Birkel and Meinhart led the Panthers' offense and accounted for 17 kills apiece. Meinhart's performance set a new career-high mark in kills.
Thiesen notched her third double-double performance of the season with 11 kills and a team-high 15 digs, while Norris posted 54 assists and 10 digs.
Pittsburgh returns to action Oct. 19 when it takes on crosstown-rival Duquesne in a road contest. The Panthers resume home competition Oct. 23-24 when they host Georgetown and Villanova.
