Pitt
at Cincinnati
Panthers Volleyball Loses Five-Set Match at Cincinnati
10/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Pitt's volleyball team could not hold leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on Sunday afternoon and dropped a five-set match at Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena, its second loss in as many days.
The Panthers won a close first set by a score of 31-29 but the Bearcats came right back with a 30-22 win in game two to even the match. Pitt (13-9, 6-3 Big East) dominated the third set with a 30-19 victory and couldn't finish Cincinnati off in the fourth game. There were seven ties and four lead changes but the Bearcats won, 30-23, and finished the match with a 15-9 victory in the final game.
Senior libero Megan McGrane (Muncie, Ind./Delta) had a match-high 30 digs, the third consecutive match she has recorded at least 30 digs, giving her a total of 97 during that span. McGrane also had three assists and a career-high five of the Panthers' 11 service aces.
Diana Andreyko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led three Panthers in double-figures in kills with 19 but only hit .046 for the match, adding 10 digs for a double-double, three service aces and three blocks. Senior Gini Ullery (Tracy, Calif./Tracy) also recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 13 digs, chipping in four blocks defensively. Fellow senior Ashley White (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East/Indiana) had her best match offensively with a career-high 13 kills and hit .242 in the match.
As a team, the Panthers only hit .152, compared to the Bearcats' .243 clip, with most of the other statistical categories even across the board. Cincinnati had five players in double-figures in kills, led by Erin Maldo and Jenny Custer, with 16 apiece. Maldo had 10 digs and Custer posted 12 digs and six blocks as both players recorded double-doubles. Setter Noel Olson nearly had a triple-double with eight kills, 53 assists and 14 digs.
The Panthers return home to face the Seton Hall Pirates on Friday, Oct. 28, at the Fitzgerald Field House, hoping to end a two-match losing streak from this weekend.
NOTES: Pitt setter Nicole Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Trenton) matched Olson's output with 53 assists and added two aces, eight digs and two blocks...fellow freshman Allie Cherven (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) hit .250 with seven kills, two digs and four blocks in the loss.
