Pitt
23-9, 13-7ACC
Virginia
18-12, 10-9ACC
Pitt Sweeps Virginia on Senior Day
11/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score | Season Stats | Photo Gallery 
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team concluded its regular season and celebrated senior night with a sweep of Virginia Friday afternoon at the Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers [23-9, 13-7 ACC] defeated the Cavaliers [18-12, 10-9 ACC] by sets scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-15, respectively.
Pitt posted a .358 hitting percentage in the three-set win, led individually by sophomore Mariah Bell who posted 12 kills. Junior Maria Genitsaridi added 11 and hit .409 in the match. Senior Amanda Orchard posted a .412 hitting percentage after putting away eight kills on 17 attempts with just a single error.
The Panthers' service game was on point, registering five aces, three of which were posted by Bell. Orchard and fellow senior Jenna Jacobson combined to add the other two. Jacobson etched the senior's name in the record book under the career aces category, as she is now tied for ninth all-time with 110.
Pitt opened the first set with a 25-21 win over Virginia and was led by Bell who put up six of her 12 total kills in the opener. The Cavaliers began the set with a 4-1 lead, but the Panthers worked their way back to take over 11-8. UVA stuck around midway through the set but a late six-point run by Pitt solidified the win.
The Panthers continued to have success in the second set, defeating Virginia 25-17, to take a 2-0 lead. Pitt and UVA were neck-and-neck through the opening points, but Virginia was forced take two timeouts midway through the set the Panthers outscored the Cavaliers 9-1 to lead 20-12. Virginia pulled back within four points of Pitt, but an ace by Jacobson brought the set to an end.
Genitsaridi, who registered five kills in the third set, led the Panthers as they took down UVA 25-15. Pitt fell behind by a point early to the Cavaliers, but UVA's lead was short lived as three Panther blocks, a kill by Bell and an Orchard ace put Pitt up 13-8. The Panthers remained ahead for the remainder of the set, even getting out to a nine point lead at one point in the late part of the set.
Pitt is hoping to extend its season by being receiving an at large bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament which begins Dec. 3. The Panthers will find out if the squad was selected on Sunday, Nov. 29 during the tournament selection show, which will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
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