Volleyball: Acton sets digs record in win over Robert Morris

Strong defense has been a hallmark of the 2010 Pitt volleyball team, but during Tuesday’s 3-2… Strong defense has been a hallmark of the 2010 Pitt volleyball team, but during Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over Robert Morris, one woman took those efforts to a record-setting level.

Sophomore libero Margy Acton set a Pitt record with 45 digs in the five-set match, breaking the previous record of 36 digs set by Megan McGrane during the 2003 season.

“Margy had a great match and the record she set is very impressive,” head coach Toby Rens said. “I am very pleased with her level of play.”

Acton joined the team this season after transferring from Lehigh, and she found little difficulty in the transition.

“I do my best to be a leader for the defense,” Acton said. “I think I get more comfortable in that role every time we play.”

As such a leader, Acton also played a part in another record set in the match. The Panthers earned 110 kills as a team, surpassing their previous record of 98.

“Our defense is a way to keep us in the match,” Rens said. “Good defense allows our offense to work efficiently.”

Defensive stability, combined with the offensive power of senior outside hitter Amy Town, allowed the Panthers to prevail in a close match against nonconference local opponent Robert Morris.

Town recorded a match-high 25 kills and added 16 digs in her fourth consecutive double-double performance.

The Panthers (10-13) won with set scores of 23-25, 25-13, 24-26, 25-16 and 15-13.

Rens said Pitt’s success in their winning sets came from an aggressive serving attack that presented Robert Morris (8-15) with difficulties.

“When we served aggressively, Robert Morris was thrown off of their offensive system,” Rens said.  “In the two sets we lost, we pulled back on our serving and its effects were evident.”

Acton was also vital in this serving effort, contributing three aces. The Panthers totaled six aces on the match, and Robert Morris only managed one.

While Acton and Town are often major factors in Panther victories, other players were also able to show their value to the team in the match.

“We changed the lineup around a little bit,” Rens said. “From those changes, Michelle Walker and Monica Wignot really stepped up and played well.”

Walker, a sophomore outside hitter, had five kills in two sets while freshman outside hitter Wignot came off the bench to earn four kills on four attempts.

Three of Walker’s kills came in the match-determining fifth set, which the Panthers won by a narrow margin of two points.

The Panthers, however, are familiar with such close matches, as they have played in six five-set matches this season, winning four of them.

“Our winning record in those tight contests is an attribute to our team energy and composure,” Rens said. “We had to dig deep for this one, but we came away with the win.”

The Panthers will return to Big East play on Friday when they travel to Villanova to face the 17-4 Wildcats who sit at third place in the conference.

In preparation for that match, the Panthers will focus on the components of their game that have been keys to success thus far in the season.

“We work on defense and serving in practice constantly,” Rens said. “Those are things that build a strong foundation for the team.”

Acton, Pitt’s newest record holder, added to the sentiment that defensive play was crucial to a Panthers’ win.

“We are a team that always plays relentless defense and that effort shows in a victory,” she said.