Pitt
Syracuse
Women's Volleyball Slips in Straight-Set Loss to Syracuse
10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2011
PITTSBURGH—Despite a double-double from freshman Lindsey Zitzke, the University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team dropped a three-set rally to Syracuse (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) at Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday afternoon.
Zitzke collected 28 assists and 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. The Dublin, Ohio native also set two Panthers for double figures in kills as senior Kiesha Leggs and freshman Jessica Wynn put down 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Leggs also tallied a match-high five blocks with the Panthers out-blocked the Orange as a team (12-8.5). This afternoon's game marked the fifth time Pitt has posted 10 or more blocks in a Big East match this season.
Pitt also out-digged Syracuse, recording 51 to SU's 49. Junior Margy Acton paced the Panthers with 13, while junior Alexa Campbell chipped in nine.
Acton was one of three Panthers to earn a game-high four digs in the first set. One of Acton’s digs led to a Leggs kill early on. As play continued, the teams were all tied after the first 14 serves.
The Orange strung together several points and jumped ahead 16-10 to force a Pitt timeout. After the break, the Panthers rallied two points to pull within four.
Later, Pitt trailed 21-14 before the Panthers earned back-to-back points with solo blocks from junior Jasmine Dittrich and Zitzke. However, Pitt and Syracuse were even through the rest of the stanza with the Orange winning four of eight volleys to earn the victory at 25-20. Leggs put down a set-high five kills and Zitzke collected 10 assists on Pitt’s 12 kills.
Pitt trailed early in the second set, 9-4, but a 5-2 rally pulled the Panthers within two a few volleys later. Leggs and Wynn kept it a two-point contest with a block at 13-11.
Syracuse extended its lead to five, 19-14, when freshman Mechael Guess entered the frame and recorded a kill on her first series. The Orange held set point at 24-18, but the Panthers fought back with kill from Wynn and a block from Wynn and Leggs.
SU took a timeout, but Pitt won two more points to pull to 24-22 before the Orange ended the frame on the next play. The Panthers out-blocked Syracuse 5-1 in the stanza. Leggs made three stuffs in the contest. She leads Pitt with 93 on the year.
The third frame was knotted at 10-10 before Syracuse scored eight unanswered points to take the eventual lead in the game. Pitt cut the deficit to 20-16 with a block from sophomore Brenea White and freshman Kate Yeazel.
Later Guess split her defenders to put down a kill. She would then combine on a block with Leggs to keep it a four-point contest at 23-19. Syracuse committed an attack error and Leggs pounded two kills through a block to make it a one-point contest at 24-23, however a kill from the Orange would secure the match victory for Syracuse.
Sophomore Monica Wignot chipped in six kills and six digs.
Pitt travels to St. John’s on Friday, Nov. 4.
