Women's Volleyball Loses to Villanova, 3-0
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
October 13, 1998
The Pittsburgh Panther volleyball team suffered losses to Big East conference rivals Villanova and Georgetown this past weekend. The losses drop the Panthers record to 10-8 overall and 1-3 in the Big East.
Pittsburgh opened the weekend with a 3-0 road loss to Villanova, Oct. 9. The Wildcats used .500 hitting compared to the Panthers' .074 to claim a 15-6 decision in the first game. The Panthers could not recover and dropped games two and three to the Wildcats, both by 15-12 counts, for the loss.
Sophomore outside hitter Marcia Thiesen (Chatham, Ontario/John Mac Gregor) led Pittsburgh's attack with a double-double performance, posting 15 kills and 14 digs. Also performing well was junior Jenna Birkel (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X). Birkel hit .474 in the match on 11 kills, two errors and 19 attempts.
On Oct. 10, the Panthers suffered their second defeat of the weekend with a 3-0 loss to Georgetown.
Georgetown opened the match with a 15-10 win in the first game. The Hoyas continued their momentum and capitalized on 10 Pittsburgh errors in the second game for a 15-11 win. The Panthers rallied in the third, taking a 4-0 lead in the game, but the Hoyas quickly tied the score and went on to a 15-11 victory. Thiesen led Pittsburgh in the loss, recording her seventh double-double performance of the season with 15 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore middle hitter Stacy Renick (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) also performed well, recording a career-high 12 kills, and added six digs and one service ace. Junior Melissa Alpers (Milford, Mass./Milford) was also strong, registering 13 digs, one solo block and four block assists.
The Panthers return to action this weekend when they face two non-conference opponents on the road. Pittsburgh will take on 18th-ranked Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., and Northern Arizona, Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.