Pitt Downs Louisville in Straight Sets

Sunday, October 23

Pittsburgh, Pa.

3:00 PM

Pitt

15-7, 6-4ACC

Louisville

7-13, 2-8ACC

Louisville

Pitt

Pitt Downs Louisville in Straight Sets

10/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

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Oct. 23, 2016

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team defeated Louisville in straight sets Sunday afternoon at the Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh.

The Panthers (15-7, 6-4 ACC) swept the Cardinals (7-13, 2-8 ACC), winning 25-22, 25-15 and 25-17, respectively.

As a team, Pitt posted more kill (41/29), assists (35/23), aces (4/3), digs (42/37) and total team blocks (10.5/9.5) than Louisville and finished the match with a higher hitting percentage. The Panthers hit .270 and held the Cardinals to a .093 mark.

Redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams tallied a team-leading 13 kills and 11 digs, collecting Pitt's lone double-double of the afternoon.

Sophomore setter Kamalani Akeo aided the Panthers' offense with 31 assists, helping junior Mariah Bell to nine kills and freshman Lanye Van Buskirk and redshirt senior Jenna Potts to seven kills each.

Potts also finished the match with a team-high six blocks, while Van Buskirk and sophomore Ellie Watkins both added four each.

Set One: Pitt 25, Louisville 22
After getting out to a 6-3 advantage at the start of the set, the Cardinals evened out the score and came back to take the lead 13-12.

Down a point, Pitt made its move and outscored Louisville 8-1 to take a 20-14 lead. The Cardinals answered with three straight points to force a Panthers timeout but Pitt returned from the break with a Bell kill and a block by Watkins and Potts to put the home team back out in front 22-17.

A late run by Louisville brought the Cards within a point of Pitt, 23-22, but the Panthers roped off back-to-back points to end the set.

Set Two: Pitt 25, Louisville 15

Pitt came out dominating in set two, taking an early 8-3 lead and forcing the Cardinals to call
their first timeout.

Pitt maintained its lead through the middle of the set and led by seven points, 17-10. Louisville was unable to catch the Panthers, whose largest lead added up to eight, before winning the set 25-15.

Williams finished with six kills, leading Pitt to a .310 hitting percentage in the set.

Set Three: Pitt 25, Louisville 17
Pitt returned from the break on fire, once again leading the Cardinals by six early on. Louisville took its first timeout down 9-3, and followed with their second after the Panthers put together three straight points to lead by more than double, 15-7.

While Pitt maintained a hefty lead, the Panthers called a cautionary a timeout up 19-12 after the Cardinals went on a three point run. Louisville repeated just points later, this time with four straight points, to trail by five, 21-16.

The Cardinals' comeback attempt fell short as errors haunted them in the final points leading to a 25-17 Pitt win.

Up Next
Pitt will continue its home stand with two more matches at the Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers will host NC State Friday Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. before welcoming the nationally ranked North Carolina Tar Heels Sunday Oct. 30 at 1 p.m.

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