PITT VOLLEYBALL TRAVELS TO WEST VIRGINIA FOR FRIDAY MATCH
10/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2006
PITTSBURGH - After having two successful home matches last weekend, the Panthers are heading into their yearly rivalry with West Virginia on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Pitt (15-6, 4-2 Big East) defeated both Georgetown and USF last weekend and the Mountaineers (2-19, 1-5 Big East) are coming off a loss to USF and a win against the Hoyas. The match will be held at the WVU Coliseum.
The Panthers are undefeated against the Mountaineers, compiling a 35 game winning streak. Last season, Pitt went 3-1 against West Virginia at home, dropping their first match and coming back in the final three.
Pitt found some stability in its lineup last weekend as several players came off the bench to make big contributions in the Panthers' wins. Sophomore Nicole Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Trenton) came in halfway through game one against Georgetown to put up 34 assists and set a new career high with four blocks.
The Panthers freshmen continue to start and make an impact in each match. Outside hitter Meagan Dooley (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) led the team with 11 kills against USF while also putting up four blocks. Middle hitter Kim Kern (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee) put up eight blocks against USF, tying her career high with two block solos. She additionally had three blocks against Georgetown. Libero Michelle Rossi (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) averaged 6.50 digs per game last weekend, bring in 20 against USF and 19 against the Hoyas.
Other top players for the Panthers have been Diana Andreyko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin). She's averaging 4.08 kills per game and is seventh in the conference standings. Senior Azadeh Boroumand (Red Deer, Alberta/Thurber) had 32 assists against USF and also put up five blocks. She's fifth overall in the Big East for assists. Jessica Moses (North Olmstead, Ohio/Lutheran West) is averaging 1.50 blocks per game, recording eight in each game against last weekend's opponents. She's currently third in the conference standings for blocking.
Looking to garner their first victory against the Panthers, the Mountaineers will take advantage of their home court. West Virginia's leading outside hitter is junior Abby Tevis. She's recorded 190 kills this season and is averaging 3.33 per game. The Mountaineers' starting setter is junior Kailiee Goold. With 562 assists this season, Goold averages 8.92 per game. She has additionally recorded 16 service aces this year. West Virginia's libero is senior Aurora Ebert-Sanots. She is averaging 4.46 with 312 digs on the season. Defensively, West Virginia's leading middle blocker is sophomore Lisa Hough. She has 52 blocks this season with 13 of those being block solos. The Mountaineers have a .073 hitting percentage this season compared to their opponents' .211.