Pitt
Cincinnati
Seniors Honored In Regular-Season Home Finale
11/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 9, 2008
PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team honored its five seniors, this afternoon, as Pitt played in its final regular-season home match. The Panthers fell 3-0 in the contest and dropped the match with scores of 12-25, 23-25 and 20-25.
Prior to the start of the match, Pitt honored its seniors Kelly Campbell, Monica Macellari, Jessica Moses, Stephanie Ross and Nicole Taurence. Combined these seniors have won 69 matches in their current four seasons and advanced to the Big East Championships two of out of the last three years. On the year, the seniors have accounted for 55 percent of the team’s points.
Leading the Panthers today, sophomore Amy Town (Orillia, Ont./Orillia) recorded a match-high 11 kills and added four digs. Junior Meagan Dooley (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) chipped in six kills, while Campbell (Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield/Pacific) added five.
Junior Michelle Rossi (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) collected 10 digs, while Taurence (Trenton, Michigan/Trenton) tallied 16 assists.
The second set was close from the beginning. Pitt trailed 5-7, before Town recorded back-to-back kills to tie it a 7-7. A few plays later, Campbell kept it a one-point contest with a hard swing over the middle of the net for a Panther kill and a 12-13 score.
Next, the Panthers earned a point following a long rally, after Moses (North Olmstead, Ohio/Lutheran West) and Ross (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) combined on a block to give Pitt the lead at 17-16. On the very next play, Campbell and Moses stuffed another Bearcat attack to force a Cincinnati timeout.
Several plays later, Dooley and Campbell then gave Pitt their fourth block of the set to maintain the lead at 21-19. The Bearcats huddled again, but Dooley’s first kill of the set pushed the Panthers ahead 23-20. Unfortunately, that was the last point for Pitt in the set, as Cincinnati recorded two kills and two blocks on the next five plays.
Pitt opened the third set with a 9-4 lead. However, after a slight run by the Bearcats, the Panthers trailed 12-13 following Moses’ 16th ace of the year.
Dooley would tie the set at 16 with a kill from Taurence. On the next play, Taurence smartly placed a dump to give Pitt a one-point advantage. Pitt then stretched the lead out to 18-16, thanks to Town’s attack on a long Cincinnati pass.
The Bearcats would answer with a 5-0 run to take the lead at 21-18 and eventual win at 25-20.
In the first set, Dooley and Town recorded three kills, a piece.
Pitt returns to action on Friday, Nov. 14, in a match against Syracuse at 7 p.m.
