Pitt
Delaware
Rossi Records 31 Digs Against Delaware
11/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 28, 2009
RICHMOND, Va.—Senior Michelle Rossi recorded her fourth 30-plus dig performance of the season, as the University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team fell 3-1 in their second match of the VCU Thanksgiving Tournament, held at the Siegal Center, this afternoon. Pitt fell to 20-11 on the season with scores of 27-29, 25-15, 21-25, 22-25.
Rossi collected a match-high 31 digs in the contest. The 2009 Big East Libero of the Year, she previously recorded 30 or more digs against Duquesne (30), Youngstown State (31) and Seton Hall (37).
Additionally, senior Meagan Dooley and freshman Michelle Walker posted career numbers in kills. Leading all with a match-high, Dooley recorded 23 kills, tying a career high she had against Marquette in 2007. Dooley also added five blocks, three digs and two aces.
Walker finished with 11 kills and four digs. Her previous career high in kills was seven, which she posted against 2009 Big East Champions Louisville, earlier this season.
Junior Imani Harper also recorded double-figure kills, 12, and led the team with a .379 hitting percentage. She added three blocks in the contest.
The Panthers eventually tied the match at one set apiece, after they recorded their first two points in the second set with blocks from senior Melissa Stadelman, a solo and an assisted, and jumped out 5-0 in the game.
Next, Stadelman collected her 14th ace of the year in the set and pushed the Panthers ahead 10-2, forcing Delaware to take their second timeout in the contest. After their huddle, Pitt would take a timeout at 13-11, due to a 9-3 Blue Hen rally.
The Panthers controlled the next few serves and led 17-12 following Dooley’s 32nd solo block on the season. Dooley would score eight of Pitt’s final 12 points of the set, which was a12-4 run coming out of the Pitt timeout earlier mentioned. Through two sets, Dooley held a then match-high 14 kills.
Reminiscent of the second set, Pitt jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set (5-1) and forced an early Delaware timeout. However, the Blue Hens would later take control at 10-7, causing a Panther timeout.
Pitt pulled within one at 12-11, but a Delaware block and ace on back-to-back plays put the Blue Hens ahead 21-16. The Panthers held Delaware on set point for a serve, but dropped the game 25-22.
Earlier in the match, Stadelman gave the Panthers a two-point lead when she recorded a kill off a back set from sophomore Allyson Hodnik. Later, with the score tied, Pitt regained the lead with a kill from Walker and jumped ahead 17-16.
A few plays later, Walker and Harper would combine on a block to force a Blue Hen timeout, leading 20-18. However, Delaware would string together a 5-3 run and tie the set at 23. Both teams then volleyed through the next few points, until two Pitt hitting errors would lead to a first-set victory for the Blue Hens.
Sophomore Rachel Kalberer recorded her first ace of the season in the opening set and tallied four kills in that game.
In the third set of the match, the Panthers hit at .429 and totaled 15 kills. However, the Blue Hens recorded 18 kills on .571 hitting in the game. Dooley led the squad with six kills, while Hodnik collected 14 assists in the set.
In the match, Hodnik finished with a double-double collecting a match-high 62 assists and 13 digs. Stadelman also chipped in 13 digs and nine kills, while junior Melanie Feldman added 11 digs.
The Panthers will learn their seeding and opponent in the 2009 NCAA Tournament at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN News.
