Panthers Face Clemson, Georgia Tech this Weekend
11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2016
Game Notes | Season Stats| Watch: Fish Report
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team continues ACC play this weekend as it hits the road to take on Clemson and Georgia Tech for the second time this season.
BACK ROW DEFENSE
SCOUTING CLEMSON
Game Notes | Season Stats| Watch: Fish Report
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team continues ACC play this weekend as it hits the road to take on Clemson and Georgia Tech for the second time this season.
The Panthers [17-7, 8-4 ACC] will take on Clemson [6-17, 1-10 ACC] Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at Jervey Gym before facing Georgia Tech [19-5, 10-2 ACC] Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. in O'Keefe Gymnasium.
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.
THE SERIES
- Pitt and Clemson will meet for the sixth time in program history. The Panthers hold a 4-1 all-time lead in the series and have won three of the last four matches against the Tigers.
- Pitt will also play Georgia Tech in their sixth meeting. The Panthers lead their all-time series with the Yellow Jackets 4-1.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Panthers finished last weekend with two ACC victories at home, beating N.C. State before triumphing over No. 8 North Carolina, both in five sets.
- During Friday's match against the Wolfpack, Pitt recorded 68 kills, more than half of which came from redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams and junior Mariah Bell who put up 16 and 22 respectively. Libero Angela Seman helped power the defense with 25 digs, while redshirt senior Jenna Potts put up six blocks.
- On Sunday, Bell, Williams and freshman Nika Markovic each contributed double-doubles to the team's victory over the No. 8 North Carolina. Bell posted 18 kills and 10 digs, while Williams recorded 14 kills and 11 digs. Markovic led the Panthers with 19 kills and also had 10 digs. Seman contributed an additional 18 digs in the win and Potts also produced 8 blocks on the game.
PITT IN THE RPI
- Pitt rises from No. 42 to No. 30 in the official NCAA RPI this week after its victories against the Wolfpack and Tar Heels.
ACC HONORS
- Bell and Markovic each attained ACC Weekly Honors for their performances this past weekend.
- 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.
THE FRESHMAN ATTACKER
- Freshman Layne Van Buskirk, one of the Panthers' two middles, has been the most efficient attacker all season for Pitt. The freshman standout has tallied a .356 hitting percentage which ranks second the ACC.
PITT'S LEADING LADY
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 17 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.
- Williams ranks fifth in the ACC in kills and points.
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 120 total blocks. Her total block count currently ranks second in the ACC and her 1.40 blocks per set are good for second in the conference.
- With her eight blocks against Florida State, Potts hit the 500 total blocks mark. She now has 533 on her career and is just six away from becoming the all-time leader in program history.
- With Potts' eight block assists against No. 22 Michigan she became the new program leader and now boasts 473 in her career. The redshirt senior surpassed Jessica Moses who held the record since 2008 with 412.
SERVING IT UP
- Bell is currently tied for second in the ACC in total service aces with 32 and fourth in aces per set with 0.37.
ASSISTING THE TEAM
- Sophomore Kamalani Akeo currently ranks first in the conference in total assists with 956.
BACK ROW DEFENSE
- Seman leads the Panthers' back row defense with 4.22 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the ACC.
SCOUTING CLEMSON
- Clemson enters this weekend 6-17 overall and 1-10 in ACC play, coming off of four straight losses, two of which were shutouts.
- The Tigers are led by senior outside hitter Leah Perri, who has 317 kills on the season and 3.58 kills per set, landing her at sixth in the ACC.
- A young team, Clemson boasts only two seniors and a group of seven freshmen.
SCOUTING GEORGIA TECH
- The Yellow Jackets come to Pittsburgh with a 19-5 overall record and a 10-2 mark in ACC play.
- Georgia Tech will take on the Panthers on the heels of a nine-game win streak, earning six of their last nine victories by way of shutout. Over the last two games, the Yellow Jackets have not dropped a set.
- Georgia Tech will take on Virginia Tech Friday, prior to welcoming Pitt on Sunday.
- The Yellow Jackets rank fourth in the ACC in hitting percentage (.233), and first in opponent hitting percentage (.162).
- Georgia Tech ranks second in the ACC in kills, due mostly to the efforts of Teegan Van Gust, the senior outside hitter who has 369 on the season, individually ranking her second in the ACC.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Pitt continues ACC action back home at the Fitzgerald Field House as Wake Forest and Duke come to town. The Panthers will take on the Demon Deacons Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. and the Blue Devils Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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