PITT VOLLEYBALL READY FOR SEASON-OPENER AT MAGNOLIA INVITATIONAL
8/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The Pitt volleyball team has not been shy about their hunger to start competing this season. Despite having a fairly young roster, the Panthers are coming off preseason training with confidence and a readiness to play. This weekend they'll open their 2006 season with the Magnolia Invitational. The two-day tournament is hosted by Ole Miss and will feature teams from Southeast Missouri State, Western Carolina and Arkansas-Little Rock.
"The Panthers are really excited to play this weekend and put what we've been working on for two weeks in preseason to the test against other opponents," said Head Coach Chris Beerman. "This has been an excellent preseason with everyone giving a great effort and the chemistry is very strong, so I'm anxious to see what we look like in an actual match. We have had strong competition at each position which in turn has created a strong starting group, but more importantly a strong, deep and hungry bench group, so I feel comfortable that this season each match will feature a strong team element. We can't wait to get started."
Pitt has several key players returning including junior outside hitter Diana Andreyko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), a 2006 All-Big East Preseason selection. Andreyko led the team in kills (516), attacks (1,352) and service aces (53) last season. The Panthers have two starting setters returning as well. Senior Azadeh Boroumand (Red Deer, Alberta/Thurber) ranked second on the team in assists (498) in 2005 and is the Panthers' sole link to the 2003 Big East championship team. Also vying for a starting role at this position is sophomore Nicole Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Trenton). She appeared in 23 matches and made 20 starts in 2005. Taurence led the team in assists (855) and broke a Pitt freshman record with 69 assists in the five-set win over Rutgers. Sophomore Jessica Moses (North Olmstead, Ohio/Lutheran West) has also taken a more active role in the middle hitter position leading into the 2006 season.
The Panthers will face Southeast Missouri State on Friday, August 25, at noon. This will be the first meeting between the Panthers and the Redhawks who finished 16-16 last season. The team is entering their second year under the direction of Head Coach Renata Nowacki and is returning five starters. The Redhawks finished fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2005.
Pitt will then face Arkansas-Little Rock at 2:30 p.m., on Friday. This is also the first meeting between the Panthers and the Trojans. UALR finished with an 18-12 record last year and a third-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans have three starters returning and six newcomers in their lineup. The team is under the direction of Van Compton who is in his 18th season.
On Saturday, August 26, the Panthers will face Western Carolina at 2:30 p.m. Pitt leads the series 1-0 against the Catamounts after a 3-0 win in 2002. Head Coach Stephanie Dragan is entering her second season at Western Carolina and will bring five starters to the tournament. The Catamounts finished 9-25 last season and seventh in the Southern Conference.
Pitt's final match in the tournament will be against Mississippi. The Ole Miss Rebels lead the series 1-0 after a 3-2 win in 1983. The Rebels finished 7-22 last season with a sixth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference. The team returns four starters under Head Coach Joe Getzin who is entering his fifth season at Ole Miss.
Updates after each match will be available at www.pittsburghpanthers.com.