Pitt Volleyball: 2015 in Review
12/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
FINAL NOTES
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team recorded its second straight season with 20 plus wins after concluding 2015 with a 23-9 overall record and a 13-7 mark in ACC play.
The Panthers saw two players in senior Amanda Orchard and graduate student Kadi Kullerkann earn multiple awards including AVCA Honorable Mention All-America status, but as a team, Pitt was unable to secure a spot in the 2015 NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament.
Season Highlights
Aug. 7, 2015 – Preseason All-ACC Team Announced – Orchard was the lone Pitt player to be named to the 2015 Preseason All-ACC Team.
Aug. 29, 2015 – at No. 5 Nebraska – After beginning the season 2-0 with sweeps of Grand Canyon and Tulsa, the Panthers fell to then No. 5 Nebraska, 3-1. The Huskers later became the 2015 NCAA Division I National Volleyball Champions after sweeping Texas in the final round of the tournament.
Sept. 27, 2015 – vs. North Carolina – Pitt swept ACC reigning champions North Carolina at home, snapping the Tar Heels’ 18 match win streak in conference play dating back to the 2014 season. This was the Panther’s first victory over UNC since 2004 and North Carolina would go on to be ranked later in the season.
Oct. 30, 2015 – vs. No. 14 Florida State – Pitt upset No. 15 Florida State by way of sweep at the Fitzgerald Field House, marking the first time the Panthers defeated a top-15 team since 2005 when the squad took down the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in a five set thriller. With the win, Pitt ended the Seminoles’ 14 conference match win streak that dated back to Nov. 21, 2014. The Panthers became the first team during the 2015 season to sweep Florida State.
Nov. 1, 2015 – vs. Miami – Pitt won its 11th straight game at the Fitzgerald Field House with a sweep over top-50 RPI team Miami.
Nov. 25, 2015 – All-Conference Awards Announced – Orchard and Kullerkann earned their first of many awards as they were tabbed 2015 All-ACC First Team honorees.
Dec. 8, 2015 – AVCA All-Region Awards Announced – The AVCA awarded both Orchard and Kullerkann Division I East Coast All-Region accolades.
Dec. 16, 2015 – AVCA All-America Awards Announced – Just a week later, the two standouts earned Honorable Mention All-America status for the second consecutive year.
Dec. 17, 2015 – Senior CLASS Awards Announced – Orchard earned her final award as a Panther, as she was named to the 2015 Senior CLASS Award First Team just a day later. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be an NCAA Division I senior while excelling in four areas – community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award, which is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, focuses on the total student-athlete package and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
2016 Preview
Pitt will lose three seniors to graduation – Orchard, Jacobson and Casey Durham – and Kullerkann who played her final year of eligibility with the Panthers this season.
Pitt will return four starters in Maria Genitsaridi, Jenna Potts, Mariah Bell and Angela Seman.
Other key returners include Kelsey O’Neill, Kamalani Akeo and Stephanie Williams who was injured early in the 2015 season.
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