Volleyball Splits Two Matches to Finish Second at Pittsburgh Invitational
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Volleyball Splits Two Matches to Finish Second at Pittsburgh Invitational
9/4/2004
PITTSBURGH?
The Panthers (2-1) raced past the Lady Bison of Howard (0-3) by game scores of 30-12, 30-14 and 30-15 to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 1998. Senior Abby Fechhelm (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) came off the bench for the final two games and recorded a match-high 15 kills in 22 errorless attempts for a .682 hitting percentage. She also added eight digs to the Panthers? defensive effort. Freshmen Ashley Creighton (Brandon, Manitoba/Crocus Plains) and Diana Andreyko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) had six kills apiece with one error in nine attempts for identical .556 hitting percentages. Creighton added two digs and two blocks, while Andreyko, playing in just the first game, had two service aces and a dig to her credit.
Sophomore Azadeh Boroumand (Red Deer, Alberta/Thurber) posted 39 assists to lead the Panthers and had 10 digs for the double-double. The Panthers hit .402 as a team and held the Lady Bison to a negative-.033 percentage with just 15 kills and 18 attack errors.
In the nightcap, Idaho (3-0) came from behind to top the Panthers, 30-28, in game one before winning the final two frames by scores of 30-21 and 30-25 for the tournament title. Sarah Meek, the tournament MVP, led the Vandals with 15 kills and just four errors in 28 attempts. Kati Tikker added 14 kills and Saxony Brown pitched in with 12 putaways. The Panthers were led by junior Gini Ullery (Tracy, Calif./Tracy) with 15 kills in 44 attempts. Ullery also added 13 digs for the double-double, tying junior libero Megan McGrane (Muncie, Ind./Delta) for the team high in digs.
For their efforts, McGrane and senior Megan Miller (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) were named to the Pittsburgh Invitational All-Tournament Team. McGrane finished with a tournament-best 52 digs in nine games for a 5.78 average. Miller hit .414 with 27 kills and just three errors in 58 attempts.
Pittsburgh Invitational Most Valuable Player
Sarah Meek, Idaho
Pittsburgh Invitational All-Tournament Team
Mandy Becker, Idaho
Meghan Brown, Idaho
Megan McGrane, Pittsburgh
Megan Miller, Pittsburgh
Liz Lord, Portland
Taylor Mason, Howard