University of Pittsburgh Athletics
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Rhode Island
Wignot Named Pitt Panther Invitational MVP
8/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2011
PITTSBURGH—Sophomore Monica Wignot was named the Pitt Panther Invitational MVP, leading the University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Rhode Island Saturday at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers improved to 4-0 on the year, while the Rams suffered their first loss of the season and slipped to 2-1. Pitt won the match, winning in four games (25-15, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-20).
Wignot recorded her first career double-double in the match with career-highs of 17 kills and 10 digs. She also added three aces and a block. On the weekend, Wignot tallied 43 kills and 29 digs to direct the Panthers to an undefeated record and the Pitt Panther Invitational title.
Wignot was joined by senior Kiesha Leggs and junior Margy Acton on the All-Tournament team. Leggs chipped in nine kills and five blocks in the match, while totaling 35 kills and 15 blocks in the four matches. Defensively, Acton collected a match-high 23 digs against the Rams. On the weekend, she posted a 4.62 dig per set average and added in seven aces.
In Saturday evening's match versus URI, Pitt’s defense proved to be a strength. Along with Acton and Wignot, freshman Delaney Clesen posted double figures in digs with 13 overall. The Panthers also out-blocked Rhode Island, 12-4.
In the first set, the Panthers and Rams remained within a point of one another through the first 11 points. In fact, there were 10 ties and six lead changes before the first timeout. With the frame tied at 11, freshman setter Lindsey Zitzke assisted on a kill by sophomore Brenea White to give Pitt a 12-11 lead. That play sparked a 7-2 run by the Panthers. It was highlighted by two kills from junior Jasmine Dittrich that forced a timeout.
Dittrich was set by Zitzke for another kill following the huddle. That point was the first of a 7-2 run to close out the set. Wignot gave the Panthers set point with her second ace of match. On the next serve, freshman Kate Yeazel and Dittrich combined on a block to give Pitt a 1-0 lead in the match.
Zitzke recorded an assist on 15 of the 16 kills in the opening set.
In the second set, Pitt trailed 14-8 to the Rams and took a timeout to regroup. The Panthers would then immediately come out of that huddle and rally together an 8-4 run to pull within two, 16-18, thanks to a kill from freshman Mechael Guess. That forced a URI timeout.
The Rams clung to a two-point lead, 19-21, before taking the set thanks to a kill and three Pitt errors.
Pitt would bounce back In another close set, the third game featured seven ties and two lead changes. Leading the Panthers was Leggs, who moved from hitting on the right side to be a middle blocker and posted a game-high five kills. Leggs recorded one of those kills with a set from Zitzke to give Pitt a 12-10 advantage in the contest. That point was in the midst of a 10-4 run after the score was tied at 10.
In another play during that 10-4 run, the Panthers won their 14th point after Rhode Island’s attacker rolled the ball into the net. However, Pitt’s defense made several strong, hustle plays to keep the ball alive in the rally.
A few serves later, the Panthers would take a 16-11 advantage in the contest with a block from Dittrich and Yeazel. Acton added an ace to stretch the lead to five, 17-12.
Wignot scored the 20th point for the Panthers after attacking a long pass by Rhode Island. The Rams attempted a comeback with a 6-3 run. However, Pitt would earn set point with a thunderous kill from Leggs. Rhode Island held the Panthers at 24 for three more serves, but a kill from Guess gave Pitt a 2-0 lead in the match. Guess came off the bench to post a career-high 11 kills.
In the finale, Dittrich and Yeazel combined on a block to push the Panthers a one-point advantage at 12-11. The teams traded points back-and-forth before Guess put Pitt ahead by two, 16-14, with a kill. That play led to a URI timeout.
Pitt would score on four of its next five serves to stretch its lead to 20-15. Dittrich would later tally the 23rd point for the Panthers when she drilled the right sideline. After a Rhode Island sideout, the Panthers held set point when the Rams served the ball into the net. The matched ended with a kill from Guess - one of her game-high four in the set.
Zitzke finished the match with a career-high 46 assists, while Dittrich garnered in 10 kills.
The Panthers return to action on Friday, Sept. 2, when they face New Hampshire at 1 p.m at Fitzgerald Field House.
All-Tournament Team
Tossin Elebute - Howard
Grace Hill - Marist
Lauren Wingard - SFU
Abbey Cvelbar - EKU
Dena Ott – EKU
Kayla Wilson – Rhode Island
Annie Nelson – Rhode Island
Patti Abshire - Duq
Liz Homan - Duq
Allison Foschia - Duq
Kiesha Leggs – Pitt
Margy Acton - Pitt
MVP -Monica Wignot - Pitt
