Friday, December 1
University Park, Pa.
5:00 PM EST
Pitt
26-6
3
vs
1
VCU
30-3
1
2
3
4
F
VCU
14
20
25
13
1
Pitt
25
25
18
25
3
Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics
Pitt Downs VCU to Advance in NCAA Tournament
12/1/2017 10:27:00 PM | Volleyball
Panthers and Nittany Lions Set for Rematch Saturday
Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats | Coach Fisher/Players Presser | Post Match Quotes
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will advance to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament after defeating VCU Friday in four sets at Penn State's Rec Hall in State College, Pa.
The Panthers, who are now 26-6 on the season, will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Last season, Pitt downed Dayton in the opening round also in four sets to move on to face Penn State in the second round which did not go in the Panthers favor.
Pitt will have a second chance at the No. 1 Nittany Lions this year, as the two teams will meet once again in the second round Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and tickets will only be available at the door.
The Panthers took care of business in the first two sets 25-14 and 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Rams (30-3) bounced back in the third to force a fourth set 25-18, but couldn't outlast Pitt who posted a 25-13 win in the final go around.
Against one of the top blocking teams in the nation, the Panthers hit .257 on the match with 60 kills. Pitt had a balanced attack once again, as five Panthers contributed kills, four in double-digits. The Panthers also racked up 63 digs with four players finishing in double-digits.
Pitt had a season-high four players finish with double-doubles, including sophomore Nika Markovic, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams, freshman Kayla Lund and junior Kamalani Akeo.
The squad was led by Markovic, who tallied her 25th match with double-digit kills and 13th straight with 17 kills. She also tallied a team-leading 13 digs alongside Lund and Akeo. Lund posted 10 kills to earn her double-double, while Akeo finished the match with 44 assists, complementing the Panthers' offense. Akeo also served up four of the team's nine aces. Williams rounded out the players with double-doubles as she posted 12 kills and 10 digs.
Sophomore Layne Van Buskirk was the final attacker to post double-digit kills as she finished with 13. Van Buskirk, along with freshman Chinaza Ndee, were phenomenal in the middle for Pitt. Van Buskirk finished with a .458 hitting percentage, while Ndee hit .500 with eight kills.
Ndee and Markovic led the Panthers' efforts at the net with four blocks apiece.
Set One: Pitt 25, VCU 14
The Panthers came out on fire in the opening set, downing the Rams 25-14 behind a perfect showing from Van Buskirk. The sophomore tallied six kills in six attempts for an unblemished attack percentage. On the frame, Pitt tallied 18 kills and hit .316.
Pitt opened strong through the first points of the set, getting out to a 10-4 lead to force VCU to call the first timeout of the match. Five of the home team's first 10 points came by way of kill, including three from Lund.
As the offense continued to rack up the points, the Panthers defense held the Rams to just 14 points in the set, as well as six kills, and a .029 hitting percentage.
Pitt led by 11 late in the set, bringing on a second timeout by VCU, but the break was useless as the Panthers held onto to take the first frame.
Set Two: Pitt 25, VCU 20
Pitt took a 2-0 lead in the match following a 25-20 second set win. Markovic led the Panthers with six kills as they went on to hit .433 in the frame, committing just three errors in 30 attempts.
With the score tied 9-9 early on, Pitt found the first substantial lead after outscoring the Rams 6-1 to take a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. Three kills, two aces and a VCU error comprised the Panthers run.
Just points later, Pitt extended its lead to 20-14 as Markovic and Williams posted back-to-back kills and Alex Rosignol and Williams combined for a block to make it three straight.
The Rams called a timeout to regroup and did just that as they outscored the Panthers 5-1 after the break to pull within two, 21-19. However, VCU's comeback fell short as Pitt racked off three points in a row, including two straight by Markovic to end the set.
Set Three: VCU 25, Pitt 18
The Rams took a set back from the Panthers in the third as Pitt fell 25-18, but continued to hold a 2-1 lead in the match.
Despite struggling early on the in the frame, blowing two timeouts and falling behind by eight, the Panthers posted eight straight points to tie the set at 13 all. Led by Akeo at the service line, Markovic tallied half of Pitt's points during the run.
The score remained close through the midpoint of the set but VCU separated itself from the Panthers down the stretch to take the frame.
Set Four: Pitt 25, VCU 13
Pitt closed out the match with a 25-13 win in the final set, solidifying their trip to the second round of the tournament. The Panthers hit .321 in the frame with 13 kills and 16 digs.
The squad got out to a great start, forcing an early timeout of VCU after getting out to an 11-5 lead. The Panthers posted four-straight points including kills by Lund, Van Buskirk and Williams.
Pitt outscored the Rams 6-2 over the next eight points to extend its lead to 17-7 and bring on a second timeout by VCU.
The Rams continued to struggle after the break, unable to keep the Panthers from adding to the score. Lund closed out the match with a final kill.
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will advance to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament after defeating VCU Friday in four sets at Penn State's Rec Hall in State College, Pa.
The Panthers, who are now 26-6 on the season, will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Last season, Pitt downed Dayton in the opening round also in four sets to move on to face Penn State in the second round which did not go in the Panthers favor.
Pitt will have a second chance at the No. 1 Nittany Lions this year, as the two teams will meet once again in the second round Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and tickets will only be available at the door.
The Panthers took care of business in the first two sets 25-14 and 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Rams (30-3) bounced back in the third to force a fourth set 25-18, but couldn't outlast Pitt who posted a 25-13 win in the final go around.
Against one of the top blocking teams in the nation, the Panthers hit .257 on the match with 60 kills. Pitt had a balanced attack once again, as five Panthers contributed kills, four in double-digits. The Panthers also racked up 63 digs with four players finishing in double-digits.
Pitt had a season-high four players finish with double-doubles, including sophomore Nika Markovic, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams, freshman Kayla Lund and junior Kamalani Akeo.
The squad was led by Markovic, who tallied her 25th match with double-digit kills and 13th straight with 17 kills. She also tallied a team-leading 13 digs alongside Lund and Akeo. Lund posted 10 kills to earn her double-double, while Akeo finished the match with 44 assists, complementing the Panthers' offense. Akeo also served up four of the team's nine aces. Williams rounded out the players with double-doubles as she posted 12 kills and 10 digs.
Sophomore Layne Van Buskirk was the final attacker to post double-digit kills as she finished with 13. Van Buskirk, along with freshman Chinaza Ndee, were phenomenal in the middle for Pitt. Van Buskirk finished with a .458 hitting percentage, while Ndee hit .500 with eight kills.
Ndee and Markovic led the Panthers' efforts at the net with four blocks apiece.
Set One: Pitt 25, VCU 14
The Panthers came out on fire in the opening set, downing the Rams 25-14 behind a perfect showing from Van Buskirk. The sophomore tallied six kills in six attempts for an unblemished attack percentage. On the frame, Pitt tallied 18 kills and hit .316.
Pitt opened strong through the first points of the set, getting out to a 10-4 lead to force VCU to call the first timeout of the match. Five of the home team's first 10 points came by way of kill, including three from Lund.
As the offense continued to rack up the points, the Panthers defense held the Rams to just 14 points in the set, as well as six kills, and a .029 hitting percentage.
Pitt led by 11 late in the set, bringing on a second timeout by VCU, but the break was useless as the Panthers held onto to take the first frame.
Set Two: Pitt 25, VCU 20
Pitt took a 2-0 lead in the match following a 25-20 second set win. Markovic led the Panthers with six kills as they went on to hit .433 in the frame, committing just three errors in 30 attempts.
With the score tied 9-9 early on, Pitt found the first substantial lead after outscoring the Rams 6-1 to take a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. Three kills, two aces and a VCU error comprised the Panthers run.
Just points later, Pitt extended its lead to 20-14 as Markovic and Williams posted back-to-back kills and Alex Rosignol and Williams combined for a block to make it three straight.
The Rams called a timeout to regroup and did just that as they outscored the Panthers 5-1 after the break to pull within two, 21-19. However, VCU's comeback fell short as Pitt racked off three points in a row, including two straight by Markovic to end the set.
Set Three: VCU 25, Pitt 18
The Rams took a set back from the Panthers in the third as Pitt fell 25-18, but continued to hold a 2-1 lead in the match.
Despite struggling early on the in the frame, blowing two timeouts and falling behind by eight, the Panthers posted eight straight points to tie the set at 13 all. Led by Akeo at the service line, Markovic tallied half of Pitt's points during the run.
The score remained close through the midpoint of the set but VCU separated itself from the Panthers down the stretch to take the frame.
Set Four: Pitt 25, VCU 13
Pitt closed out the match with a 25-13 win in the final set, solidifying their trip to the second round of the tournament. The Panthers hit .321 in the frame with 13 kills and 16 digs.
The squad got out to a great start, forcing an early timeout of VCU after getting out to an 11-5 lead. The Panthers posted four-straight points including kills by Lund, Van Buskirk and Williams.
Pitt outscored the Rams 6-2 over the next eight points to extend its lead to 17-7 and bring on a second timeout by VCU.
The Rams continued to struggle after the break, unable to keep the Panthers from adding to the score. Lund closed out the match with a final kill.
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Team Stats
VCU
UP
Kills
37
60
Errors
21
24
Attempts
132
140
Hitting %
.121
.257
Points
55.0
76.0
Assists
36
57
Aces
3
9
Blocks
15.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
RS/MH
/ Volleyball
MH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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