TPN Panthers of the Week: Mariah Bell and Mikal Outcalt

Mariah Bell, volleyball, outside hitter

The junior outside hitter contributed tremendously to the volleyball’s two-game split at the Fitzgerald Field House against Notre Dame and Louisville over the weekend. Although the Panthers lost to the Fighting Irish, Bell managed 12 kills for the team. She also helped the Panthers secure their straight set sweep against Louisville with 9 kills.

Bell has a total of 127 kills for the season, second on the team only to Stephanie Williams’ 139. Together the duo is responsible for more than half of the 511 kills the Panthers have accumulated against opponents so far and keep the team on track to be serious contenders for the ACC Championship.

Bell and the Panthers will spend next weekend battling NC State at 7 p.m. Friday and No. 8 North Carolina at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Fitzgerald Field House.

Mikal Outcalt, soccer, goalkeeper

The redshirt freshman held Pitt men’s soccer team to a scoreless draw, after a double overtime, against No. 16 Virginia Friday evening at home. The Panther goalkeeper fended off four shots on goal, including a vital game-changing one in the second overtime period.

So far this season, Outcalt has played 1,496 minutes on the field, only letting 20 goals get past him. Of the 110 shots on goal made against the team, he’s made 88 saves, keeping four of the last six games within a one-point margin.

The Pitt men’s soccer team and Outcalt will wrap-up the regular season in Blacksburg, Virginia, against Virginia Tech at 7 p.m Friday.