Saturday, August 26
Seattle, Wash.
1:00 PM EST
Pitt
0-2
0
vs
3
Creighton
2-0
1
2
3
F
Creighton
25
25
25
3
Pitt
19
22
17
0
Panthers Fall in Three to No. 9 Bluejays
8/26/2017 3:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Pitt Concludes Husky Invitational with 4 p.m. Match vs. Saint Mary’s
SEATTLE – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team dropped a three-set match to No. 9 Creighton, Saturday morning at Washington's Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Wash.
The Panthers (0-2) fell in straight sets to the nationally ranked Bluejays (2-0) 25-19, 25-22 and 25-17.
Pitt struggled on offense, unable to figure out Creighton's block, but performed well on defense as the Panthers out-dug the Bluejays 52-42.
"I am disappointed that we have not at least won a set at this point," said head coach Dan Fisher. Clearly we have played two of the top teams in the nation and I'm trying to have the team keep that in perspective. The things we need to do better to play at this level are offensive. It's pretty clear we can serve, pass and play defense at this level but we have to figure some things out offensively. Last night we didn't have a good enough offense and today was more of the same."
"The highlight of the day was freshman Kayla Lund. I thought she bounced back nicely and came out ready to go. She gave us a nice boost."
Lund showed off for Pitt, recording 13 kills on 26 attempts to hit .308. The newcomer also posted nine digs, a block and the Panthers' lone service ace. Sophomore Layne Van Buskirk hit well in the middle for Pitt, tallying a .278 clip after putting away seven kills on 18 attempts.
Junior Kamalani Akeo earned her first double-double of the season as she finished the match with 24 assists and a team-leading 12 digs. Freshman Chinaza Ndee and sophomore Nika Markovic each recorded three blocks for the Panthers.
Set One: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 19
Pitt and Creighton opened the first set in a tight race, but the Bluejays offense began to separate itself as they got out in front by five. The Panthers called a timeout trailing 13-8, but following the break, Pitt broke out six straight points, including a block and two kills by Lund, to tie the set 14-14.
Late in the set, Creighton's defense picked up as back-to-back blocks gave the Bluejays a three-point lead and forced a second timeout call by the Panthers.
Pitt remained within two until the final points of the set as Creighton pulled ahead to come out on top 25-19.
Set Two: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 22
Early in the second set, the Panthers and Bluejays battled to find a lead, as the teams remained neck-and-neck. Pitt was able to find a two-point lead, 14-12, which led to a timeout call by Creighton.
Out of the break, the Bluejays scored three straight points and regained a 19-16 lead, but another lead change occurred as the Panthers scored six points to a single by Creighton to push ahead 22-20.
The set continued to go back-and-forth as three consecutive points by the Bluejays put them back on top 23-22 late in the second. Pitt called a timeout to slow Creighton's momentum but was unable to as the Bluejays rallied off two more points to take the set 25-22.
Set Three: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 17
Following intermission, the Panthers struggled to find a groove in the third set as they fell behind early on.
Creighton took an 11-7 lead after three consecutive points only to continue the run after a second timeout call by Pitt. The Bluejays scored eight straight to move out in front 16-7.
The Panthers attempted to chip away at Creighton's lead but was unable to as the Bluejays won the final set 25-17.
Up Next
The Panthers conclude their opening weekend at the Husky Invitational this evening with its final match against Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. EST.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Panthers (0-2) fell in straight sets to the nationally ranked Bluejays (2-0) 25-19, 25-22 and 25-17.
Pitt struggled on offense, unable to figure out Creighton's block, but performed well on defense as the Panthers out-dug the Bluejays 52-42.
"I am disappointed that we have not at least won a set at this point," said head coach Dan Fisher. Clearly we have played two of the top teams in the nation and I'm trying to have the team keep that in perspective. The things we need to do better to play at this level are offensive. It's pretty clear we can serve, pass and play defense at this level but we have to figure some things out offensively. Last night we didn't have a good enough offense and today was more of the same."
"The highlight of the day was freshman Kayla Lund. I thought she bounced back nicely and came out ready to go. She gave us a nice boost."
Lund showed off for Pitt, recording 13 kills on 26 attempts to hit .308. The newcomer also posted nine digs, a block and the Panthers' lone service ace. Sophomore Layne Van Buskirk hit well in the middle for Pitt, tallying a .278 clip after putting away seven kills on 18 attempts.
Junior Kamalani Akeo earned her first double-double of the season as she finished the match with 24 assists and a team-leading 12 digs. Freshman Chinaza Ndee and sophomore Nika Markovic each recorded three blocks for the Panthers.
Set One: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 19
Pitt and Creighton opened the first set in a tight race, but the Bluejays offense began to separate itself as they got out in front by five. The Panthers called a timeout trailing 13-8, but following the break, Pitt broke out six straight points, including a block and two kills by Lund, to tie the set 14-14.
Late in the set, Creighton's defense picked up as back-to-back blocks gave the Bluejays a three-point lead and forced a second timeout call by the Panthers.
Pitt remained within two until the final points of the set as Creighton pulled ahead to come out on top 25-19.
Set Two: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 22
Early in the second set, the Panthers and Bluejays battled to find a lead, as the teams remained neck-and-neck. Pitt was able to find a two-point lead, 14-12, which led to a timeout call by Creighton.
Out of the break, the Bluejays scored three straight points and regained a 19-16 lead, but another lead change occurred as the Panthers scored six points to a single by Creighton to push ahead 22-20.
The set continued to go back-and-forth as three consecutive points by the Bluejays put them back on top 23-22 late in the second. Pitt called a timeout to slow Creighton's momentum but was unable to as the Bluejays rallied off two more points to take the set 25-22.
Set Three: No. 9 Creighton 25, Pitt 17
Following intermission, the Panthers struggled to find a groove in the third set as they fell behind early on.
Creighton took an 11-7 lead after three consecutive points only to continue the run after a second timeout call by Pitt. The Bluejays scored eight straight to move out in front 16-7.
The Panthers attempted to chip away at Creighton's lead but was unable to as the Bluejays won the final set 25-17.
Up Next
The Panthers conclude their opening weekend at the Husky Invitational this evening with its final match against Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. EST.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
CREI
UP
Kills
35
38
Errors
13
23
Attempts
104
112
Hitting %
.212
.134
Points
55.5
44.5
Assists
32
31
Aces
7
1
Blocks
13.5
5.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballRS
/ VolleyballRS/MH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballPitt Volleyball | Pitt 3, Jacksonville 1 | Highlights
Tuesday, September 09
Pitt Volleyball | Postgame vs Jacksonville | Dan Fisher, Blaire Bayless and Izzy Masten
Sunday, September 07
Highlights | Pitt vs. Jacksonville
Sunday, September 07
Pitt Volleyball | Pitt 3, Pepperdine 0 | Highlights
Saturday, September 06