No. 9 Pitt Sweeps Virginia to Start ACC Play

Wednesday, September 19

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 PM EST

Pitt

12-0, 1-0

Virginia

4-7, 0-1

Virginia

Pitt

No. 9 Pitt Sweeps Virginia to Start ACC Play

9/19/2018 10:25:00 PM | Volleyball

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Panthers Stay Perfect at 12-0, Winning ACC Opener

PITTSBURGH – The No. 9 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (12-0, 1-0) opened ACC play Wednesday night with a 3-0 sweep of Virginia (4-7, 0-1) at Fitzgerald Field House.

With the win, the Panthers continued their best start to a season since going 12-0 in 1983. Pitt defeated the Cavaliers 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21.

Redshirt senior libero Angela Seman moved into second place all-time for career digs at Pitt, recording 12 against the Cavaliers to total 1,607 over her five years as a Panther. The Pitt record is 2,424, held by Megan McGrane (2002-05).

Redshirt junior outside hitter Stephanie Williams paced the Panthers with 13 kills against Virginia, hitting .400 on the day. Two other Panthers recorded double figures in the kill column: sophomore middle Chinaza Ndee with 12 and sophomore outside Kayla Lund with 11.

Senior setter Kamalani Akeo posted her second consecutive double-double (third of the season) with 25 assists to go along with 10 digs.

Pitt out-hit the Cavaliers, .290 to .198, and limited UVA to 33 kills with zero Cavaliers posting double figures for the stat. Virginia had the advantage in blocks, 12.0 to 9.5.

Set One: No. 9 Pitt 25, Virginia 17

Pitt was in control for most of the first set. Early on, there were four ties, but after a 6-6 knot-up the Panthers did not surrender the lead again. Holding a 12-11 lead, the Pitt outscored UVA 13-6 to end the set. The Cavaliers drew close, trailing 17-15, when the Panthers went on a 4-0 run, led by two service aces from Akeo. Lund led the team with five kills and .375 hitting percentage. Freshman middle Sabrina Starks recorded four blocks.

Set Two: No. 9 Pitt 25, Virginia 23

Pitt fell far behind in the second set, battling back to complete an impressive come-from-behind victory. The Panthers led 1-0 and were not able to regain a lead until late in the match, 22-21. Pitt was able to overcome a nine-point deficit (16-7), going on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 16-13. The Cavaliers answered with a 4-0 run to take a 20-13 lead. Pitt gained control again by roaring on 10-1 run and going up 23-21. Virginia was able to tie the set 23-23, but the Panthers finished the comeback by winning the next two points. Akeo provided the Panthers with 13 assists and five digs. As a team, Pitt achieved .300 hitting percentage.

Set Three: No. 9 Pitt 25, Virginia 21

Pitt completed the sweep, again coming from behind. The set saw seven lead changes, with the Panthers trailing the Cavaliers for the majority of the frame. Pitt had an early 5-4 lead and did not regain it again until they went up 20-19. Trailing 16-19, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run to grab a 23-19 lead. Pitt was able to clinch the match with a service ace from Seman. Williams led the Panthers with five kills in the set, and Alix Dreier also recorded two kills.

UP NEXT
The No. 9 Panthers (12-0, 1-0) will travel to Blacksburg, Va., for their first ACC road test Friday, Sept. 21, against Virginia Tech (9-0, 0-0) at Cassell Coliseum. The match will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available on the WatchESPN app.

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