Volleyball wins one of two

The Pitt volleyball team traveled to Big East foes St. John’s and UConn this weekend, losing… The Pitt volleyball team traveled to Big East foes St. John’s and UConn this weekend, losing to the nationally ranked Red Storm before defeating the Huskies.

“We played pretty well, but offensively we weren’t up to our usual standards,” head coach Chris Beerman said. “I thought our defense was excellent, our blocking was great and we dug really well.”

The loss to No. 19 St. John’s ended a three-game winning streak for the Panthers (9-8, 3-1 Big East) and marked the team’s first loss of the year to a Big East opponent.

St. John’s took three out of four games Saturday, including a crushing 30-12 victory in game three. The Panthers responded Sunday, sweeping the Huskies, 3-0.

Junior Kelly Campbell recorded her seventh double-double of the year against St. John’s with 16 kills and 10 digs.

Also, sophomore Meagan Dooley had a match-high 15 kills against UConn.

“Dooley was great this weekend,” Beerman said. “She was awesome as a blocker against St. John’s and definitely our best performer against UConn.”

Sophomore Michelle Rossi had a team-high 17 digs against St. John’s and a match-high 23 digs against UConn.

“Rossi was terrific both games,” Beerman said. “She really frustrated the outside hitters for both teams, who couldn’t put the ball away cross-court, and that’s a credit to her making all those plays.”

Pitt hosts Big East opponents Seton Hall and Villanova to the Fitzgerald Field House this weekend, playing the Pirates Saturday and the Wildcats Sunday.

St. John’s 3, Pitt 1

Game one was tied at seven when the Red Storm (19-2, 4-0 Big East) scored three straight points to take a 10-7 lead.

Trailing 25-19, Pitt mounted a comeback but was only able to bring the deficit down to one point multiple times. With the score 29-28, a kill by St. John’s senior Dana DeMayo gave the Red Storm a victory in game one.

In game two, a kill by Campbell started a run where Pitt scored 12 of the next 17 points to tie it at 13. From then on, the game remained close with neither team taking more than a two-point advantage.

Pitt held a 29-27 lead, but St. John’s tied the game. The Panthers were able to score the first two advantages but couldn’t put away the Red Storm just yet.

Then, after a St. John’s attack error, another Campbell kill gave the Panthers a 35-33 win in game two.

“I think people are starting to key on her more,” Beerman said of Campbell. “But she’ll be able to adjust to that.”

Game three was tied at five before the Red Storm went on a 15-of-18-point run to take a commanding 20-8 lead. They would go on to win 30-12 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

A kill by junior Stephanie Ross tied game four at 18, but the Red Storm would then take the next five points and a 23-18 lead. Two straight kills by Dooley and senior Diana Andreyko brought the Red Storm lead down to 24-22.

Campbell tied the game at 26 with a kill, but St. John’s took four of the next six points to win the game, 30-28, and the match, 3-1.

Pitt 3, UConn 0

All three games were close as the Panthers recorded their fifth shutout of the year.

Pitt won the first game on a Huskies (11-5, 2-2 Big East) attack error. Thanks to the10 UConn attack errors, Pitt won game two, 31-29.

Game three was tied 10 times and also included five lead changes before the Panthers won, 31-29, for the second straight game.

Andreyko tied the game at 25 with one of her six kills. Then a Ross kill gave Pitt a 27-26 lead and it won on an attack error by the Huskies.

“I think overall we feel pretty good about ourselves,” Beerman said. “We’ve just got to keep the momentum going.”