Volleyball: Pitt splits two close matches

The two matches were almost mirror images of one another. Each went the full five sets and… The two matches were almost mirror images of one another. Each went the full five sets and involved a team coming from behind to secure the victory.

In the Blue and Gold Tournament, held at the Fitzgerald Field House this past weekend, the Panther volleyball team wonclaimed a win against New Mexico, but they saw a two-set lead disappear against Delaware.

“Both of these matches were highly competitive and involved sustained high levels of volleyball,” head coach Toby Rens said. “While they were so similar, it is amazing how different it feels after the opposite outcomes.”

Before the two tight matches began, the Panthers (10-4) had their first feelings of victory in the tournament after an easy 3-0 win against Temple (4-9) on Friday afternoon.

In the match, the Panthers were led by sophomore Monica Wignot on offense, as she recorded a match-high 15 kills.

Defensively, junior libero Margy Acton led all players with 12 digs.

Wignot and Acton were named to the All-Tournament team for their weekend performances.

“Monica has been such an impact player on offense for us this season, and she is only improving as the weeks go by,” Rens said. “Margy is playing some of her best defensive volleyball right now and has set the tone on the court as our libero.”

In the Panthers’ next match against New Mexico (7-3), such individual performances proved pivotal, but for junior outside hitter Alexa Campbell, mental focus was an even bigger factor as the team rallied from an 0-2 deficit to capture a win.

“In close matches, it is so important to keep your head up and stay in the match,” Campbell said. “Even when we were down, we knew that we could still come back and close it out, and we were successful.”

After dropping the first two sets 19-25 and 18-25, the Panthers managed to earn tight wins in the final three sets with scores of 26-24, 26-24 and 15-13.

“I am incredibly pleased with the way our young team responded to adversity against New Mexico,” Rens said. “Showing that kind of resiliency is a good sign of a strong team.”

Along with the win, Pitt also had a vital contributor emerge against New Mexico.

Freshman Mechael Guess made her first start of the season and recorded 17 kills, the second-most for the Panthers after Wignot’s 23.

Like Campbell, Guess agreed that more than physical volleyball skill was necessary for the win.

“After the second set, we all communicated that we were not ready to give in and lose the match,” Guess said. “That, more than anything I think, was the biggest factor.”

Wignot and Guess led the offense in kills, but senior Kiesha Leggs also chipped in with 16 kills and earned three of the Panther’s final six points in the fifth set.

In less than 24 hours, the Panthers found themselves in the reverse situation. After Pitt gained a two-set advantage over Delaware (5-9), the Blue Hens staged a comeback that mimicked that of the Panthers’ the night before.

“We just did not finish when we had the chance,” Campbell said after the loss. “This time the lead was ours to protect, and we were not able to do it.”

The Panthers never held the lead in the third set, but they had advantages of 9-5 and 8-5 in the fourth and fifth sets, respectively, that they could not maintain. Coach Rens attributed the breakdown to missed opportunities.

“It is certainly disappointing to know that you had missed opportunities throughout a stretch of three sets,” Rens said. “Afterwards, you recognize that you can learn from that kind of experience, but it is tough to move on initially.”

Guess agreed with her coach, stressing the need for the Panthers to learn from the defeat and work to improve their weak areas, which Guess believes lie outside of actual volleyball play.

“We have all the skills and athleticism that we need to win matches, even the close ones like the Delaware match,” Guess said. “We have the mental focus to do so as well, but we need to work on keeping that focus strong in all situations.”

Many Panther players showed evidence of that physical skill over the weekend, recording impressive statistical achievements.

Wignot totaled 64 points scored, while also contributing to the defensive efforts by earning double-digit dig figures in each of the Panthers’ three matches.

“Monica’s number of kills gets a lot of attention, but her defense is critical to keeping the opposing team off-balance,” Rens said.

Acton averaged 5.85 digs per set in the tournament, and freshman setter Lindsey Zitzke recorded her first double-double of the season against Delaware with 68 assists and 18 digs.

The Blue and Gold Tournament was the last competition before the Panthers begin Big East play against Seton Hall on Friday at the Fitzgerald Field House.

“We are ready to prepare this week for our conference opener,” Rens said. “We are pleased with our preseason record and accomplishments, and they should serve us well in the competitive Big East.”