Oct. 11, 2009

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla.—Pitt recorded a season-high 18 blocks on the day, as its women’s volleyball team earned a five-set victory over USF, this afternoon, at the Corral. The Panthers won with scores of 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 22-25 and 15-9, improving to 13-7 on the season and 5-1 in Big East play.

Pitt’s 18 blocks is a season best, surpassing the 15.5 recorded against Kent State, earlier this year. On the weekend, the Panthers tallied 31 total blocks. Pitt is out-blocking its opponents 206-142, on the season.

Leading the way in today’s contest was senior Melissa Stadelman with a career-high nine stuffs. She is third on the team in blocking with 67 to date. Stadelman was also one of four Panthers with double-figure kills, recording 11 kills and three assists in the match.

Senior Meagan Dooley tallied 18 kills, five blocks and four digs in the contest. Additionally, juniors Imani Harper and Amy Town each chipped in 10 kills, while sophomore Rachel Kalberer tied a career-high seven kills and added a career-best four block assists.

In the fifth set, Pitt held the Bulls (10-5, 3-2 Big East) to negative .07 hitting on 27 attempts. The Panthers also recorded five blocks in the game, as Harper recorded one solo block and four assists. Harper also went 3-for-5 hitting for a .600 clip in the same set.

Earlier in the match, Pitt bounced back after dropping the opening set and took a 2-1 lead in the contest after holding USF to just .067 hitting in the third set. Sophomore Allyson Hodnik collected 12 assists on the 13 Pitt kills in the game. Hodnik recorded 46 totals assists on the day.

Senior Michelle Rossi tallied 22 digs in the match, marking her eighth match of the season with more than 20 digs, and her fourth in Big East action.

Returning to Fitzgerald Field House, the Panthers host Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m.