Volleyball: Mountaineers Drop Match to Pitt
October 23, 2009 07:43 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
October 23, 2009
Results
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team fell to BIG EAST foe Pitt this evening at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pitt improved to 15-8, 7-2 after defeating the Mountaineers (13-11, 3-6) in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) match.
After a WVU block and kills from outside hitters senior Kristina Gallahan and junior Andrea Miller, the Mountaineers jumped to a quick 3-1 lead over the Panthers in the first set. However, Pitt’s Meagan Dooley returned with a kill of her own that sent the Panthers on a 6-0 run for the lead. Down 14-19, another Gallahan kill gave the Mountaineers a short run to bring them to within two. Despite their efforts, the Mountaineers couldn’t hold of the Panthers as Dooley recorded a service ace for the set.
Pitt carried the momentum into set two as it started with an early 3-9 advantage over WVU. The Mountaineers started a late-set run as junior Middle Blocker Lauren Evans recorded a kill, followed by a service ace, while a kill from Miller and a block from junior Abby Norman tied the set at 19. The two teams battled for the lead as sophomore setter Kari Post once again tied the set with the score at 22. Pitt then powered over the Mountaineers to win the second set after a kill from Rachel Kalberer.
Gallahan and Pitt’s Dooley traded kills in set three, as the Mountaineers started with a 2-1 lead. Then, the Panthers answered with a kill from Kalberer to take the lead. Despite several runs from the Mountaineers, Pitt took the match after a kill from Jenn Katona.
Gallahan led the Mountaineers this evening with 11 kills and three service aces, while Kopecky added eight kills.
The Mountaineers are set to continue play next weekend with a 7 p.m. match at Connecticut on Friday, Oct. 30, and a 2 p.m. match at St. John’s on Sunday, Nov. 1.
