University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
(13-1, 1-0)
Boston College
(6-7, 1-1)
Pitt Volleyball Opens ACC Play with Sweep Over Boston College
9/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (13-1, 1-0 ACC) picked up its first ACC win of the season with a 3-0 sweep against Boston College (6-7, 1-1 ACC) Sunday afternoon. This makes for the Panthers eighth straight at home this season and 11th sweep.
Pitt downed the Eagles by set scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-11. Pitt's Jessica Wynn and Lindsey Zitzke aided offensively for the Panthers and are both close to reaching career milestones. Wynn who is now only eight kills away from 1,000 total career kills, led Pitt offensively with 16 kills while Zitzke added two service aces to bring her career total to 152. With those two aces, Zitzke is now tied in for first place in Pitt history in career service aces. With one more, she will be the Panthers all-time career leader in service aces. Both look to surpass those milestones in the next match.
The Panthers went on a six-to-one run early in the first set which included two kills by Wynn, a kill by Kate Yeazel and three attack errors by Boston College. Pitt continued to lead midway through the set but was forced to take the first of its two taken after the Eagles pulled within four points. Out of the timeout, Boston College tallied three consecutive aces to make Pitt call another. The Panthers then only led 17-16. Continuing on to the final points of the set, Boston College and Pitt exchanged points and were tied 20-20 but the Panthers went on to win the first set 25-22.
The second set started out opposite of the first as Boston College led 4-1 to begin. While Pitt regained the lead just a eight points later on an Amanda Orchard kill, it didn't last long as the set had another two lead changes before Pitt took it for good. Zitzke recorded both of her aces within her five consecutive serve streak which gave Pitt a 13-11 lead. The Panthers extended their lead to 17-11 after the Eagles committed three straight attack errors and Jenna Potts put down a kill. Though Boston College was able to bring the score back within three points, the Panthers held on to grab their second set win of the day, 25-18. Wynn and Orchard each tallied four kills in the second set.
The third and final set ended with a 25-11 score which gave Pitt the set win and the match win. A quick set, the Panthers held the Eagles to just 11 points. Boston College recorded twelve total errors to Pitts one. Late in the set, the Panthers solidified the win when Jenna Jacobson served five straight balls that resulted in points for the Panthers. Wynn followed with five serves as well, all for points, which gave Pitt the win. Amanda Orchard recorded two kills while Wynn added a service ace in those final five points.
The Panthers return to action Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. when they take on North Carolina in their second ACC match-up of the season. The match will take place on the Panther's home court at the Fitzgerald Field House.
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