Pitt
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh Falls To Notre Dame And Syracuse
10/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 4, 1999
PITTSBURGH - The Panthers opened Big East Conference play this past weekend and lost two matches to league-rivals Notre Dame and Syracuse.
Pittsburgh began its Big East slate Oct. 1 against Syracuse and suffered a 3-2 loss to the host Orangewomen.
The Panthers grabbed a 15-13 win in game one, but Syracuse came back to take game two, 15-12. Pittsburgh rebounded with a 15-7 victory in the third game, but ultimately fell, 15-8, 15-8, in the final games.
Junior outside hitter Marcia Thiesen (Chatham, Ontario/John MacGregor) and senior middle blocker Jenna Birkel (Lincon, Neb./Lincoln Pius X) each recorded a double-double in the match. Thiesen led the Panthers with her 17 kills while also tallying 12 digs for her second double-double of the season. Birkel notched her first double-double performance of 1999 with 14 kills and a team- high 13 digs. Middle hitter Jen Nickels (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield North) also contributed 12 kills and freshman setter Carrie Norris (Fostoria, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon) had 51 assists.
The Panthers continued league play Sunday, Oct. 3, when they traveled to Notre Dame to take on the defending Big East Tournament champions, but fell, 3-0, to the Irish.
Notre Dame came out strong posting an impressive .467 hitting percentage to the Panthers' .222, and captured a 15-5 victory in the first game. The Irish continued their momentum and took 15-6 wins in both games two and three.
Junior outside hitter Stacy Renick (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) led Pittsburgh with her 11 kills, setting a new season-high mark, while also contributing one solo block and two block assists. Birkel added another seven kills, and Norris had 28 assists and a team-leading six digs.
The Panthers record stands at 6-6 overall and 0-2 in the Big East Conference.
Pittsburgh returns to action Saturday, Oct. 9 when it travels to Connecticut and Sunday, Oct. 10 when it takes on St. John's.
