Volleyball: Pitt to face defending champs

The Pitt-Penn State football rivalry may be set to resume in 2016, but the Panther volleyball… The Pitt-Penn State football rivalry may be set to resume in 2016, but the Panther volleyball team will take on the No. 2 Nittany Lions as part of the University of Pittsburgh Invitational this weekend.

The four-time defending National Champions last visited Pitt’s campus in 1991, although the two teams have met since then.

In 2003, the Panthers fell to the Nittany Lions 3-1 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and Penn State defeated Pitt 3-0 in the 2009 Penn State Tournament.

Despite recent struggles against their cross-state opponent, the Panthers remain optimistic about the 2011 match-up and are excited to play a talented team. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 1 before their opening game of the season when they fell to then-unranked Oregon 3-1, snapping a 94-game home winning streak.

Penn State bounced back the next day, defeating then-No.2 USC 3-2.

“Personally, I am looking forward to playing Penn State,” Monica Wignot, a sophomore outside hitter said. “Playing such a great team will allow our own team to experience and compete at a high level of play.”

Wignot, who was named MVP of last weekend’s Pitt Panther Invitational, will be a key offensive factor for the Panthers. She recorded 43 kills and 29 digs as the Panthers compiled a 4-0 record and earned the Invitational title.

The Nittany Lions have long been a force in women’s collegiate volleyball, but the 2011 squad is unique in that 13 of the 17 roster members are freshmen and sophomores.

“It certainly won’t be similar to teams we’ve had the last few years, where we’d enter a match and feel we’ve had players with experience winning the big matches,” Penn State head coach Russ Rose said in a statement on the team’s web site. “We’ll be like a number of young teams in the country and will try and mature and develop, establish a lineup that gives us the best chance to be competitive.”

The Panthers are young as well with a roster containing only two seniors: middle hitter Lauren Hartman and middle blocker Keisha Leggs.

Pitt head coach Toby Rens said he was impressed with the confidence of the underclassmen.

“Our freshmen and sophomores have contributed so much to the team, whether they are starting or coming off the bench,” Rens said after the Panthers captured the Pitt Invitational championship. “They have poise and a mental focus that will serve them well as we face strong competition.”

Freshman Lindsey Zitzke recorded 13 aces at the Pitt Panther Invitational and 46 assists in the final 3-1 victory over Rhode Island.

As a substitute in the Rhode Island match, freshman Mechael Guess put together a breakout performance, recording 11 kills. She totaled just two kills in the Panthers’ previous three matches.

Rens said Pitt will use the time approaching the University of Pittsburgh Invitational to improve upon weaknesses exposed in the Pitt Panther Invitational.

“We have a few rotations that gave us trouble, especially in the second game loss to Rhode Island,” Rens said. “Our blocking is one of those areas that can be either hot or cold, so we need to work on consistency there.”

Last weekend, the Panthers out blocked Eastern Kentucky 9-3 on Saturday morning and then lost the blocking contest 8-5 to Marist College later in the afternoon.

The Pitt team is prepared to use the match against Penn State as an early season checkpoint that will give them a sense of their own abilities.

“Playing the top-ranked team in the nation on our home court will be a challenge, but one that will ultimately help our team grow together in experience,” Wignot said.

“It will be a great competitive atmosphere.”

The match against the defending national champions will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Fitzgerald Field House.

As part of the Invitational, the Panthers will also face New Hampshire and Miami (Ohio) on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon, respectively.