University of Pittsburgh Volleyball Sweeps Virginia: Match Recap and Next Match Against NC State

2023-10-19 01:59:41

Next Match:

at NC State

10/20/2023 | 7 PM

ACCNX

Oct. 20 (Fri) / 7 PM

at NC State

PITTSBURGH –The No. 7 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (17-3, 8-1 ACC) swept Virginia (8-11, 1-8 ACC) 3-0 at the Fitzgerald Field House on Wednesday night. Pitt was led by graduate middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo who registered 10 kills, while hitting .600.

It did not take long for Pitt to get off to a hot start in the beginning of the first set as Olivia Babcock went on a 4-0 run early behind three Torrey Stafford kills. Virginia took a timeout, but once once more, a 6-0 run from Stafford forced Virginia to take their second timeout, down 13-3. Nwokolo and Stafford combined for 11 of Pitt’s 16 kills in the set, and Pitt’s efficient offense was too much for Virginia to overcome. The Panthers earned the first set victory, 25-13.

Virginia hung with the Panthers at the beginning of set two, but a 6-0 service run from Chiamaka Nwokolo which included two aces caused the Cavaliers to take their first timeout at 11-5. Virginia tried to claw their way back in the match, but a Logan Mosley ace and Julianna Dalton kill forced Virginia to take their second timeout at 16-8. A 4-0 run behind the line from Babcock and a .312 hitting percentage in the set secured Pitt the second set win, 25-13.

Pitt started a bit shaky at the start of the third set, as it called a timeout down 3-7.  A successful service run from Valeria Vazquez Gomez which forced three straight Cavalier errors tied the score up at 11-11. Both teams sided out at an impressive clip, but a Haiti Tautua’a ace pushed Pitt to go up 18-17, as Virginia used its first timeout. The Panthers won three of the next four points, and Virginia used its final timeout of the match. A kill from the trio of Julianna Dalton, Blaire Bayless and Nwokolo was enough for Pitt to win set three, 25-21 and the match, 3-0.

NOTES
–    Nwokolo recorded 10 kills for the second time this season
–    Emmy Klika registered a match-high nine digs
–    Fairbanks had a match-high 20 assists while Lexis Akeo and Haiti Tautua’a recorded eight a piece

UP NEXT

The No. 7 Panthers have a quick turnaround as they are set to play NC State in Raleigh on Friday. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.

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