Pitt Volleyball Continues ACC Play in Split Road/Home Weekend

Oct. 30, 2014

Pitt (18-3, 6-2 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (9-13, 2-7 ACC)
Date	Friday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Location	Cassell Coliseum / Blacksburg, Va.
Television	N/A
Radio	N/A
Online	Live Stats
Game Notes / Stats	Match Notes \| Pitt - Stats
Promotions	N/A
Social Media	Twitter: @PittVolleyball / Instagram: PittVolleyballACC / #PITTvsVT

Pitt (18-3, 6-2 ACC) vs. Syracuse (8-13, 1-8 ACC)
Date	Sunday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Location	Fitzgerald Field House / Pittsburgh, Pa.
Television	N/A
Radio	N/A
Online	Panthers All-Access \|
Game Notes / Stats	Match Notes \| Pitt - Stats \| Syracuse- Stats
Promotions	'Pack the Pete' Food Drive
Social Media	Twitter: @PittVolleyball / Instagram: PittVolleyballACC / #PITTvsCUSE

PITTSBURGH - After splitting its two matches this past weekend, the Pitt volleyball team (18-3, 6-2 ACC) is ready to take on two more ACC opponents beginning on Friday, Oct. 31, when the Panthers head to Virginia Tech (9-13, 2-7 ACC) for a match slated to begin at 7 p.m. The team will then return home to face Syracuse (8-13, 1-8 ACC) for the second time this season on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House.

Sunday's match will be a part of the 'Pack the Pete' annual food drive. Fans who donate a bag of nonperishable food items when entering the match will receive free admission and be qualified to win two tickets to the 'O Starry Night' concert hosted by CBS Radio 100.7 Star. The Radio station will be broadcasting live from the Fitzgerald Field House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the day of the match.

Last Friday, the Panthers kicked-off their weekend homestand by taking on No. 4 Florida State. In front of a packed house, Pitt took a 2-0 lead over the league-leading Seminoles. Florida State then rebounded behind Nicole Walch's 24 kills to take the next three sets and end the Panthers' upset bid. Pitt was balanced offensively and had four players with 10-plus kills: Kate Yeazel (15), Jessica Wynn (11), Maria Genitsaridi (12) and Casey Durham (12). Defensively, the Panthers were led by Delaney Clesen and Jenna Jacobson, who posted 19 and 12 digs, respectively.

Pitt bounced back on Sunday with a four-set conference victory over new ACC foe, Louisville. The Panthers jumped out early and captured the first two sets before dropping the third, 26-24. Pitt ended the match with a 29-27 fourth set victory. It was another great team performance as four players had 10 or more kills: Kate Yeazel (17), Maria Genitsaridi (13), Jessica Wynn (10) and Amanda Orchard (10). Genitsaridi and Wynn also added 15 and 12 digs, respectively, to notch double-doubles. Senior Lindsey Zitzke chipped in across the board with 32 assists, seven digs and five service aces.

Last year, the Panthers swept the season series with Virginia Tech after winning 3-0 at home and 3-1 in Blacksburg. The Hokies have struggled as of late, winning only two of their past nine contests, but did take down Notre Dame in three sets last weekend. Virginia Tech is led by sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Owens as she paces the team in both kills (283) and digs (224).

Pitt's previous meeting with Syracuse was just three weeks ago on Oct. 12 and resulted in the Panthers winning in four sets. The loss for the Orange contributed to a seven game losing skid which was recently snapped in a sweep of Wake Forest at home. Syracuse is led by junior outside hitter Silvi Uattara and junior setter Gosia Wlaszcuk. Uattara leads the team in kills with 298 and is sixth in the ACC with 3.65 kills per set. Wlaszczuk currently has 580 assists, 497 more than any other player on the team.

Statistically, Pitt sits atop of the national rankings, as they rank third in assists per set (14.08) and kills per set (14.77). Individually, junior Amanda Orchard ranks fifth in the country in total hitting percentage (.442).

Live stats will be available for both matches and can be found by clicking the specified links above. In-game updates will also be available through the team's Twitter account, @PittVolleyball.