Volleyball: Pitt preps for Big East run

The Pitt women’s volleyball team has just three more games until it begins conference play…. The Pitt women’s volleyball team has just three more games until it begins conference play. And although the matchups won’t affect the Panthers’ Big East record, they will serve as an indicator of how the team will fare in conference play.

“We are playing three competitive teams, which is actually a benefit to us,” Rens said. “These teams compare well to those we will face in the regular season.”

The Panthers (8-3) will host the Blue and Gold Tournament at the Fitzgerald Field House on Friday and Saturday, when they will play in three matches against Temple, New Mexico and Delaware.

Typically, conference play is the Panthers’ biggest focus. Although matches outside of the Big East are great for bragging rights and national standings, it’s Big East play that sets up standings for the Big East Championship — the qualifier for nationals. For this young Panther team, which includes only two seniors, the practice before the Big East tournament provides tough competition that will help new recruits adjust to college play.

As a freshman, Lindsey Zitzke is glad to be looking forward to additional experience on the court as the starting setter before the Panthers face Big East opposition. The high level of competition that out-of-conference teams bring to the table provides valuable learning experience for the entire team.

“Hopefully the team can use these next matches to continue to grow together and build a team chemistry,” Zitzke said. “The more opportunities we have to work on that bond, the better off we will be in the season.”

Sophomore outside hitter Monica Wignot said it’s also an opportunity to kick off conference play on a strong note.

“I think it is so important to finish the tournament season strong,” Wignot said. “It will be nice to enter Big East play with momentum.”

But the momentum won’t necessarily come easy. The Blue Hens of Delaware will come to Pitt after having won their most recent match 3-0, against Temple. Temple is experiencing a slump, having dropped its last four matches, whereas New Mexico has hit its stride. The Lobos have won five of their last six contests, earning 3-0 sweeps in three of them.

In addition to providing new competition, the Blue and Gold Tournament will also be a chance for the Panthers to recover from their most recent loss to Ohio University on Tuesday night.

In a highly competitive match, the Panthers held a 2-1 set lead but were unable to close out the fourth set and ultimately fell to the Bobcats 3-2.

“The Ohio match was emotionally and physically draining,” junior middle blocker Jasmine Dittrich said. “We lost the match, but we learned the importance of closing out games and remaining mentally tough in tight games.”

For Dittrich, that mental toughness, along with the team chemistry-building mentioned by Zitzke, will be the focus in the practices leading up to the Blue and Gold Tournament.

“We are a young team getting to know each other on the court,” Dittrich said. “I think we can use the loss to Ohio as motivation to improve and finish the early season with three victories.”

The Panthers are a young team, with middle hitters Kiesha Leggs and Lauren Hartman as the only seniors on the squad.Underclassmen routinely make up the majority of the Panther lineup. In the Ohio match, three freshmen and two sophomores saw action in all five sets, a sign of Rens’ confidence in his young players.

“I have been impressed with our younger players and their ability to adapt to a collegiate level of play so early in the year,” Rens said.  “The Blue and Gold Tournament can serve as a final tune-up for them before they face our conference’s foes for the first time.”

When the Panthers take the court on Friday against Temple and on Saturday against New Mexico and Delaware, they will aim for a complete team performance — from both the younger players and the veterans — while they try and add to their win total.

Offensively, Wignot and Leggs have led the Panthers thus far in kills and hitting percentages. Both players recorded career highs in kills against Ohio, with 20 and 22 respectively.

“Kiesha and Monica are really playing well for us right now,” Rens said. “When both of them are on, we are able to have a more balanced offensive attack.”

Junior libero Margy Acton has been running the Panther defense with efficiency this season, earning match-high dig figures in each of her last four starts.

“Margy is essential to our defense, but that also translates into offensive production as well,” Rens said. “In her last few matches, she has been all over the court and passing on target.”

The Panthers will look to combine physical play and mental focus in the Blue and Gold Tournament in preparation for an intense season.

“We know that we have the athleticism to play with the teams in the tournament,” Dittrich said. “It will be a matter of maintaining our game plan and moving on mentally from a tough loss.”