Sept. 22, 2012

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Despite a match-high 14 kills apiece from Alexa Campbell and Jessica Wynn, the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (9-6, 0-1) dropped its Big East Conference opener at Seton Hall (12-1, 1-0) on Saturday afternoon, 3-1 (15-25, 25-18, 19-25, 20-25), at Walsh Gymnasium.

Wynn connected on 14 of her 28 attempts, good for a .357 hitting clip. Campbell tallied 14 spikes on 43 attempts, while Monica Wignot also reached double-digit kills with 10. Lindsey Zitzke recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 23 assists and 10 digs, while Margy Acton had a match-best 22 digs. SHU's Shelbey Manthorpe recorded a triple-double with 12 kills, 34 assists and 16 digs to lead the Pirates.

After dropping the first set 25-15, Pittsburgh controlled the second set and led wire-to-wire. The Panthers jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the frame and kept the Pirates at a comfortable distance as SHU would only be able to climb within two points (11-9, 12-10).

With Pitt leading 12-10, the Panthers used a 5-2 run, capped off by a kill from Wynn, to build some separation for the remainder of the set. A SHU hitting error capped off the 25-18 victory as the two teams went into the locker room tied at a set apiece.

Seton Hall grabbed a 13-12 advantage in the third frame and held onto the lead for the remainder of the set for the 25-19 triumph. There were seven ties and five lead changes in the fourth set, but a 6-3 SHU run late in the set gave the Pirates a 20-17 lead as Seton Hall went on to wrap up the set 25-20 and the 3-1 victory.

The Panthers look to rebound tomorrow with a match at Rutgers. First serve is set for 2 p.m.