Pitt
Miami (Oh)
Dittrich and Zitzke Earn All-Tournament Honors
9/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2011
PITTSBURGH—Junior Jasmine Dittrich and freshman Lindsey Zitzke were named to the All-University of Pittsburgh Invitational team, as Pitt’s women’s volleyball team earned a straight-set victory over Miami (Ohio), this afternoon, at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers improved to 6-1 on the year, while the Redhawks slipped to 5-2 overall. Pitt won the match with scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-18.
Dittrich led the Panthers with a .312 hitting percentage during the tournament. She recorded 20 kills total and posted a 2.0 kills per set average. Dittrich also chipped in eight total blocks.
Zitzke accumulated 88 assists in the three matches this weekend, recording an 8.80 assist per set average. She also added 22 digs, five aces and five blocks in the tournament.
This afternoon, the Panthers were led by sophomore Monica Wignot and junior Kiesha Leggs with 14 and 11 kills, respectively.
Zitzke recorded 29 assists, seven digs, three kills, two blocks and two aces in the contest. Additionally, freshman Delaney Clesen collected a career-high 11 digs, while junior Margy Acton chipped in eight.
The Panthers trailed early in the first set, but a tip from Leggs tied the set at 13. Leggs was successful on the play because she went up and looked as if she was going to swing hard, but pulled back at the last second to throw off the defense. Leggs gave Pitt a one-point lead, 14-13, when she swung on a set from Zitzke on the next serve.
The Panthers and Redhawks would volley between the next few points. First, Pitt led 18-16 with a kill from Wignot. But Miami (Ohio) would later lead 20-18, which forced a Pitt timeout.
Wignot’s kill on the next serve gave the Panthers a sideout after that timeout. The Panthers came out of the timeout and went on a 4-0 run to take a 22-20 lead. That rally included a combined block from junior Alex Phillips and Dittrich.
Later, the Panthers held set point when Zitzke attacked a pass from Wignot. The Panthers would take a 1-0 lead in the match thanks to a block from sophomore Brenea White and Leggs to end the game, 25-22.
Pitt out-blocked Miami (OH), 4-2, in the first set and 11-5 in the contest. On the year, the Panthers are winning the blocking battle with a 57-33 edge in the seven matches to-date.
Wignot turned in a set-high six kills in that opening frame. Defensively, Acton and Zitzke collected four digs, apiece.
In the second set, Pitt led by six, 11-5, before Miami (Ohio) went on a 7-2 run to close the gap to one, 13-12. As play continued, Miami (Ohio) tied the match at 16, but Wignot’s eighth kill of the match gave the Panthers an edge, 17-16.
The score seesawed between the next few serves until Leggs and White combined on a block to give Pitt a three-point lead, 22-19.
Next, Wignot gave Zitzke a perfect pass, which led to a kill for Leggs and set point for the Panthers. White closed out the set (25-22) when she recorded her fifth solo block of the season.
In the final game of the match, freshman Mechael Guess hit a shot down the left sideline to tie the set at 12 and give the Panthers serve. Junior Alexa Campbell would then serve her sixth ace of the season to give Pitt a one-point lead at 13-12. That ace was also the 54th of the year for the Panthers.
Later, Zitzke and Dittrich combined on back-to-back blocks for the Panthers. Those two blocks were also part of an 8-4 run for Pitt that resulted in a Miami (Ohio) timeout at 21-16. The Panthers held momentum after their huddle, winning the next three of five serves to earn set point, 24-18.
Wignot secured the victory with her team-leading 81st kill of the season.
The Panthers travel to Orlando, Fla. next, where they will face Florida Atlantic, UNC-Greensboro and host Central Florida in the Residence Inn/UCF Invitational on Sept. 9-10.
All-University of Pittsburgh Invitational Team
Jenn Caylor (Miami-Ohio)
Amy Keding (UNH)
Jasmine Dittrich (Pitt)
Lindsey Zitzke (Pitt)
Deja McClendon (Penn State)
Kristin Carpenter (Penn State)
MVP – Micha Hancock (Penn State)
