Pitt
Notre Dame
Women's Volleyball Garners 3-1 Win Over Notre Dame
10/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 12, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind,-Earning another league win on the road, Pitt's women's volleyball team garnered a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame at the Joyce Center, this afternoon. The Panthers won with scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-23 and 25-20.
In a close match, where all four sets were decided by five points or less, the Panthers (12-8, 5-1 Big East) were able to hold off Notre Dame (9-9, 4-2 Big East) to complete the sweep of the weekend. Pitt has won all four of its road, league matches this season. This afternoon’s win also marked the first time a conference team has defeated the Fighting Irish in consecutive regular-season meetings.
Senior Kelly Campbell (Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield/Pacific) recorded a season-high 22 kills and 10 digs in the match for her eighth double-double of the season. On the weekend, Campbell posted 38 kills and leads the squad with 103 in conference play this year.
As a team, Pitt out-blocked Notre Dame, 10-5. On the year the Panthers are 194.5-139.5 in blocking and 78-41.5 in league play.
Junior Meagan Dooley (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) led the squad with six blocks, while adding 10 kills and a .304 hitting percentage. On the year, she boasts 75 and is currently fourth on the all-time career list with 81 solo blocks.
In the first set, Dooley recorded four of Pitt’s five blocks and three kills, while Campbell led the second set with six kills. Seniors Jessica Moses (North Olmstead, Ohio/Lutheran West) and Nicole Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Trenton) combined on Pitt’s sole block in the second set. Moses leads the team with 84 blocks.
Later in the third set, junior Michelle Rossi (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) collected a set-high nine digs. She recorded 20 in the match and has 345 on the season.
Pitt won the fourth set after taking a 6-1 lead. Freshman Allyson Hodnik (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) recorded the first point of the contest with her sixth ace of the season. Hodnik would post 34 assists on Pitt’s 59 kills.
Later, the Panthers led 18-16 when junior Melissa Stadelman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) and Dooley combined on a block. Dooley followed with a kill on the next play to force the Fighting Irish to take their second timeout of the fourth set.
Notre Dame recorded two points in the next four plays that caused Pitt to take a timeout themselves. After the talk, Campbell gave Pitt a 24-18 lead with back-to-back kills. A Fighting Irish attack error would secure the Panther victory.
Pitt hosts non-conference foe Youngstown State on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.
