Bell, Markovic Sweep ACC Weekly Honors
10/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2016
Complete ACC Release
PITTSBURGH - Pitt volleyball players Mariah Bell and Nika Markovic captured this week's ACC volleyball honors after leading the Panthers to back-to-back five-set victories including an upset of No. 8 North Carolina Sunday at the Fitzgerald Field House.
Complete ACC Release
PITTSBURGH - Pitt volleyball players Mariah Bell and Nika Markovic captured this week's ACC volleyball honors after leading the Panthers to back-to-back five-set victories including an upset of No. 8 North Carolina Sunday at the Fitzgerald Field House.
In addition to the Panthers' win over the nationally ranked Tar Heels, Pitt defeated NC State in a five-set thriller Friday.
Both Bell and Markovic helped the Panthers record their first victory of the season over a top-10 opponent and their third over a top-25 team (No. 22 Michigan, No. 25 Colorado State).
Pitt's five-set victory over No. 8 UNC handed the Tar Heels their first conference loss of the season. The two ACC victories helped the team jump from No. 42 to No. 30 in this week's NCAA RPI rankings.
Bell was one of the Panthers' top contributors in the two contests over the weekend, tallying 40 total kills, a .258 hitting percentage as she finished with 4.00 kills per set. In addition, she recorded 21 digs, seven blocks and added three aces.
Against the Wolfpack, Bell recorded a career-high and team-leading 22 kills to go along with 11 digs for a double-double. On Sunday against the No. 8 Tar Heels, she tallied 18 kills and 10 digs while hitting .282 in the match. She now has six double-doubles this season.
Markovic was another key component to the Panthers success over the weekend posting 29 kills (2.90/set). She finished the two games with a combined hitting percentage of .244, while posting 19 digs (1.90/set).
Markovic was Pitt's top hitter versus North Carolina, recording a career-high 19 kills and a .268 hitting percentage. She also tallied 10 digs on her way to posting her first career double-double. On Friday against NC State, she tallied 10 kills, aced twice and put up nine digs and a single block.
Pitt continues ACC action this weekend 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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