Sunday, April 18
Omaha, Neb.
1 PM ET
Pitt
3
vs
2
Minnesota
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann/NCAA Photos
ELITE! Pitt Volleyball Dances into Program’s First NCAA Regional Final
4/18/2021 6:08:00 PM | Volleyball
Panthers Upset No. 3 Seed Minnesota in NCAA Regional Semifinal
OMAHA, Neb. – The unseeded Pitt volleyball team (19-4, 14-4 ACC) made history with a thrilling five-set upset of No. 3 seed Minnesota (16-3, 15-2 Big Ten) to advance to its first NCAA Regional Final in program history Sunday afternoon at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Pitt earned the gritty victory by scores of 21-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11. It was the Panthers' third win in five days, after sweeping LIU (April 14) and No. 14 seed Utah (April 15) to advance to the Regional Semifinal. Pitt holds a 10-15 all-time record when competing in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior right side hitter Chinaza Ndee led Pitt with 19 kills on .213 hitting. Sophomore middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo was on fire with a career-high 13 kills on .647 hitting, to go along with three blocks.
Two Panthers recorded double-doubles, including senior outside hitter Kayla Lund, who produced her ninth of the year with 17 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt senior setter Kylee Levers recorded her second of the season with 33 assists and 10 digs.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Valeria Vazquez Gomez was one kill away from a double-double with nine kills and a match-high 17 digs.
Junior middle blocker Sabrina Starks of Springfield, Neb., led Pitt with eight blocks, including two solos.
Pitt had the advantage in kills (70-60), assists (67-58) and service aces (4-3). The Gophers recorded more digs (65-60) and blocks (16.0-11.0) and out-hit the Panthers (.233-.205).
MILESTONE WATCH
Right side hitter Chinaza Ndee is nearing her 1,000th kill, with 998 so far for her career. She would become Pitt's 18th member of the 1,000 Kill Club. She would be the second active Panther in the club, alongside co-captain outside hitter Kayla Lund.
Set One: No. 3 Minnesota 25, Pitt 21
Despite a couple long runs by the Gophers, Pitt stayed with Minnesota for the duration of the set. After trailing 16-10, the Panthers responded by cutting their deficit to as few as two, down 23-21. Two Minnesota kills completed the frame and the Gophers went up, 1-0. Pitt hit .077 for the set while the Gophers recorded a .235 clip.
Set Two: Pitt 25, No. 3 Minnesota 23
The Panthers earned the tournament's first win against a Big Ten team with a 25-23 victory in the second. Pitt earned a 20-16 lead following a 4-1 run, but the Gophers were able to answer and cut their deficit to one. Following a tie at 23, kills by junior Jordan Lockwood and Lund, respectively, sealed it for Pitt. Pitt hit .310 in the frame and held the Gophers to .189.
Set Three: No. 3 Minnesota 25, Pitt 20
A 5-0 start for Minnesota swung the momentum in the Gophers' favor. Pitt was able to tie the frame at eight, but some runs down the stretch kept Minnesota in front. The Gophers went up 2-1 in the match following a 25-20 showing in the third. Pitt hit .150 compared to Minnesota's hot .367 percentage.
Set Four: Pitt 25, No. 3 Minnesota 21
The Panthers never gave up, responding with a win in the fourth frame to force a fifth. Following a tie at nine, a 5-1 Pitt run swung the momentum in Pitt's favor (14-10). Another 4-1 run put the Panthers close to the finish line, up 21-16. Pitt completed the frame with a kill by Vazquez Gomez to force the final set, 25-21.
Set Five: Pitt 15, Minnesota 11
The thrilling fifth set included a 7-2 surge by the Panthers, who gained an 11-7 margin. Minnesota used a 3-1 run to pull within two points (12-10), but Pitt was able to hold off the Gophers thanks to a few attack errors and two kills by Nwokolo.
UP NEXT
Pitt will face to face the winner between No. 11 seed Louisville and No. 6 seed Washington in the Regional Final at noon Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena in Omaha, Neb.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Pitt earned the gritty victory by scores of 21-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11. It was the Panthers' third win in five days, after sweeping LIU (April 14) and No. 14 seed Utah (April 15) to advance to the Regional Semifinal. Pitt holds a 10-15 all-time record when competing in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior right side hitter Chinaza Ndee led Pitt with 19 kills on .213 hitting. Sophomore middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo was on fire with a career-high 13 kills on .647 hitting, to go along with three blocks.
Two Panthers recorded double-doubles, including senior outside hitter Kayla Lund, who produced her ninth of the year with 17 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt senior setter Kylee Levers recorded her second of the season with 33 assists and 10 digs.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Valeria Vazquez Gomez was one kill away from a double-double with nine kills and a match-high 17 digs.
Junior middle blocker Sabrina Starks of Springfield, Neb., led Pitt with eight blocks, including two solos.
Pitt had the advantage in kills (70-60), assists (67-58) and service aces (4-3). The Gophers recorded more digs (65-60) and blocks (16.0-11.0) and out-hit the Panthers (.233-.205).
MILESTONE WATCH
Right side hitter Chinaza Ndee is nearing her 1,000th kill, with 998 so far for her career. She would become Pitt's 18th member of the 1,000 Kill Club. She would be the second active Panther in the club, alongside co-captain outside hitter Kayla Lund.
Set One: No. 3 Minnesota 25, Pitt 21
Despite a couple long runs by the Gophers, Pitt stayed with Minnesota for the duration of the set. After trailing 16-10, the Panthers responded by cutting their deficit to as few as two, down 23-21. Two Minnesota kills completed the frame and the Gophers went up, 1-0. Pitt hit .077 for the set while the Gophers recorded a .235 clip.
Set Two: Pitt 25, No. 3 Minnesota 23
The Panthers earned the tournament's first win against a Big Ten team with a 25-23 victory in the second. Pitt earned a 20-16 lead following a 4-1 run, but the Gophers were able to answer and cut their deficit to one. Following a tie at 23, kills by junior Jordan Lockwood and Lund, respectively, sealed it for Pitt. Pitt hit .310 in the frame and held the Gophers to .189.
Set Three: No. 3 Minnesota 25, Pitt 20
A 5-0 start for Minnesota swung the momentum in the Gophers' favor. Pitt was able to tie the frame at eight, but some runs down the stretch kept Minnesota in front. The Gophers went up 2-1 in the match following a 25-20 showing in the third. Pitt hit .150 compared to Minnesota's hot .367 percentage.
Set Four: Pitt 25, No. 3 Minnesota 21
The Panthers never gave up, responding with a win in the fourth frame to force a fifth. Following a tie at nine, a 5-1 Pitt run swung the momentum in Pitt's favor (14-10). Another 4-1 run put the Panthers close to the finish line, up 21-16. Pitt completed the frame with a kill by Vazquez Gomez to force the final set, 25-21.
Set Five: Pitt 15, Minnesota 11
The thrilling fifth set included a 7-2 surge by the Panthers, who gained an 11-7 margin. Minnesota used a 3-1 run to pull within two points (12-10), but Pitt was able to hold off the Gophers thanks to a few attack errors and two kills by Nwokolo.
UP NEXT
Pitt will face to face the winner between No. 11 seed Louisville and No. 6 seed Washington in the Regional Final at noon Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena in Omaha, Neb.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Players Mentioned
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