Volleyball Falls in Five
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO DePaul got off to a fast start winning the first two sets, but Pittsburgh roared back and took the final three to post a 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-12, 15-3) win in a BIG EAST Conference volleyball match on Saturday at McGrath Arena.
The loss drops the Blue Demons to 1-16 overall and 0-5 in conference play while the Panthers improved to 11-8 and 4-1.
DePaul took the opening set, 25-22, behind four kills from Jacie Fiedler and three from Sarah Cullen, while Christy Landschoot dished out nine assists. With the score tied at nine, DePaul went on a 6-0 run behind three kills by Fiedler. The Panthers were able to get as close as 23-21, but Cullen had two kills in the final three plays to ice the victory for the Blue Demons.
The second set was extremely tight. Pitt led 15-14 but after a Blue Demon time out, DePaul scored four straight points to take an 18-15 advantage. The Panthers were able to get as close as 22-20 but the Blue Demons closed out strong and won 25-21. Cullen and Kate Letcher (who hit .571 in the set) each had five kills while Landschoot had 13 assists.
The Panthers bounced back and won a tight third set, 25-20. It was a close contest throughout and Pitt won the set by using a 5-2 run at the end. DePaul was unable to get a lot of offense going, hitting just .033 in the set.
Pittsburgh was able to get its offense cranked up in the fourth set, hitting .519 and winning 25-12. The Panthers’ Meagan Dooley was perfect in her six attacks to pace the Pitt offense.
The fifth and final set was all Pittsburgh as it scored the first three points and never looked back. DePaul was able to get the margin cut to 4-2 on a kill by Cullen but then the Panthers then used a 10-1 run to seal the set and match victory.
Cullen paced the Blue Demons with 14 kills, while Letcher added 10, and Fiedler nine. Kyndell Highland hit .318 (seven kills with no errors in 22 attacks). Landschoot dished out 40 assists while Mattie Boyd led the defense with eight digs.
Pitt had three players with double figure kills in Kelly Campbell (16), Jessica Moses (12), and Meagan Dooley (11). Allyson Hodnik had 50 assists while Michelle Rossi led the team with a match-high 11 digs.
The Blue Demons will have to bounce back quickly as they entertain West Virginia tomorrow in a BIG EAST match at McGrath Arena. Match time is 2 p.m. (CST).
Notes: Sophomore Jacie Fiedler has registered double-digit kill totals in 12 of the Blue Demons’ 17 matches... Fiedler has finished 27 career matches in double-digit kill totals... Sarah Cullen has 10 double-doubles (kills-digs) this season and 18 in her career...Cullen has finished the last 12 matches with double-digit kill totals... the Blue Demons have dropped their last 12 matches and last seven (dating back to 2007) BIG EAST conference matches... although 1-16, the team has only lost four matches 3-0, while they have played nine, four set and four, five set matches... DePaul’s lone win is a 3-2 victory over James Madison on Sept. 6.