Panthers Ready for NC State, No. 8 UNC

Oct. 27, 2016

Game Notes | Season Stats

Pitt vs. NC State: | ACC Network Extra

Pitt vs. No. 8 UNC: | ACC Network Extra

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team continues ACC play this weekend as they welcome NC State and No. 8 North Carolina to the Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers [15-7, 6-4 ACC] will take on NC State [13-9, 6-4 ACC] Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. before welcoming No. 8 North Carolina [18-2, 10-0 ACC], who is undefeated in conference play. Pitt goes head-to-head with the Tar Heels Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m.

STATISTICS/BROADCAST INFORMATION

- ACC Network Extra will broadcast both of the Panthers' matches, while live stats will also be available. Links to both can be found at the top of this page.

PROMOTIONS

Friday- Dig Pink!

- Fans who wear pink will receive free admission

- The first 400 fans will receive a pink Pitt Script rally towel

Sunday- Halloween Celebration

- The first 200 fans in costume receive a trick-or-treat goody bag

- Free Pizza for Pitt Students while supplies last

- Student costume contest - The student in the best costume, judged by the crowd, will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card

- Panther Club Appreciation - Panther Club members will receive free admission and concessions deal

- Post-match youth clinic

THE SERIES

- Pitt and NC State will meet for the ninth time in program history. The Panthers hold a 7-1 all-time lead in the series and have won the last four matches against the Wolfpack.

- Pitt will take on North Carolina in the 15^th meeting between the two programs. The Panthers split with the Tar Heels last season.

LAST TIME OUT

- The Panthers finished last weekend 1-1, falling to Notre Dame in straight sets before bouncing back and sweeping Louisville 3-0.

- During Friday's match against the Fighting Irish, Pitt recorded more kills (42/25), assists (41/35) and digs (44/40) than Notre Dame but couldn't find a way to get ahead of the Irish throughout the sets. Redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams powered the offense with 15 kills, while junior Mariah Bell added 12 kills along with a .273 hitting percentage.

- On Sunday, Williams once again led the way on offense, recording a team-leading 13 kills and 11 digs. Her double-double propelled the Panthers to a straight-set victory over the visiting Cardinals. Sophomore setter Kamalani Akeo recorded 31 assists, helping Mariah Bell tally nine kills, while Layne Van Buskirk and Jenna Potts added seven kills each.

PITT IN THE RPI

- Pitt falls from No. 38 to No. 42 in the official NCAA RPI this week after going 1-1 last weekend.

THE FRESHMAN ATTACKER

- Van Buskirk, one of the Panthers' two middles, has been the most efficient attacker all season for Pitt. The freshman standout has tallied a .376 hitting percentage which ranks 2nd the ACC and 38^th in the NCAA.

PITT'S LEADING LADY

- After returning from two foot injuries - one from early in the 2015 season and another in the offseason earlier this year, Williams has dominated in her redshirt season.

- Williams has posted 15 matches in which she has tallied double digits kills, including four contests where she put away 20 or more. Her highest total of the season came against American when she racked up a career-high 25 kills on Saturday, Sept. 10.

POTTS WITH THE BLOCK

- Potts proved to be the Panthers' best blocker last year and has remained in that position this year as she leads the team with 106 total blocks. Her total block count currently ranks second in the ACC and her 1.39 blocks per set are good for third in the conference.

- With her eight blocks against Florida State, Potts hit the 500 total blocks mark. She now has 519 on her career.

- With 519 career total blocks, Potts currently ranks sixth in the nation among all active players.

- With Potts' eight block assists against No. 22 Michigan she became the new program leader and now boasts 462 in her career. The redshirt senior surpassed Jessica Moses who held the record since 2008 with 412.

SERVING IT UP

- Bell is currently third in the ACC in total service aces with 30 and fourth in aces per set with 0.38.

ASSISTING THE TEAM

- Akeo currently ranks first in the conference in total assists with 850.

BACK ROW DEFENSE

- Redshirt sophomore libero Angela Seman leads the Panthers' back row defense with 4.21 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the ACC.

SCOUTING NC STATE

- NC State enters this weekend 13-9 overall and 6-4 in ACC play.

- The Wolfpack are led by junior outside hitter Julia Brown, who ranks first in the ACC with 969 total attacks and 11.96 attacks per set. Last Friday against Syracuse, Brown set a season-high in kills with 31, leading the Wolfpack to a 3-2 win over the Orange in Raleigh.

- NC State's offense will also look to senior Maggie Speaks who has recorded 108 total assists (fourth in ACC) and 10.76 assists per set (second in ACC). Speaks has recorded 45 or more assists on seven occasions this season.

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA

- The No. 8 Tar Heels come to Pittsburgh with an 18-2 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in ACC play.

- The Panthers, who are 8-6 all-time against UNC, are one of only two programs in the ACC to lead the all-time series against the Tar Heels.

- UNC is off to its best start to ACC play in program history, opening the conference slate 10-0. The Tar Heels are in sole possession of first place in the conference.

- Over the last three games, the Tar Heels have not dropped a set. With their most recent sweep of Syracuse, UNC head coach Joe Sagula became the first ACC coach in conference history to reach the 300-win plateau.

- The Tar Heels ten-game winning streak marks the third straight season that UNC has posted a double-digit win streak and the 13^th time in program history.

- The Tar Heels are backed by a strong defense, ranking first in the ACC and 24^th nationally by holding their opponents to a .161 hitting percentage. Not to be outdone, the UNC offense owns a .261 hitting percentage, also first in the ACC and 31^st nationally.

- Overall, the Tar Heels .900 winning percentage ranks fifth in the nation.

LOOKING AHEAD

- Pitt continues ACC action in Georgia as the Panthers take on Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Panthers will visit the Tigers Nov. 4 and then face the Yellow Jackets Nov. 6.

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