First-round loss sends Pitt home in Big East tourney

For the second straight year, Pitt’s volleyball season ended in the first round of the Big… For the second straight year, Pitt’s volleyball season ended in the first round of the Big East Tournament after suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Marquette this past Friday at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.

The loss leaves the Panthers’ record at 22-9 overall.

The telling factor for Pitt’s early exit was a hitting percentage of .081 in the four-game set vs. the Golden Eagles. The absence of freshman Meagan Dooley, a Second Team All-Big East selection, because of injury didn’t help matters either.

“It wasn’t a huge upset. I think it was a very even match coming into the match, coming in for us we thought it would be really tough for us,” head coach Chris Beerman said. “We beat them by two points at their place earlier in the season (15-13 in fifth set on October 20).

“If we would’ve played better, I would’ve felt better about things, but we didn’t play well.”

Marquette came out in the first game to prove that the Panthers’ No. 3 seed was irrelevant, though both teams had 10-4 records in Big East play. The Golden Eagles set the tone of the early morning matchup by racing out to a 14-7 lead.

Pitt cut the deficit to three at 24-21 on a block by Kim Kern and Kelly Campbell, but that was the closest Pitt would come to a comeback. Marquette took the first game, 30-26.

The second game was more of a battle throughout. Azadeh Boroumand’s kill cut the Eagle lead to 22-20, but Marquette scored the next three points and held on to win, 30-25.

With their season on the line, the Panthers didn’t give an inch to Marquette, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. Pitt extended its lead to 16-9 but the Golden Eagles would cut their deficit to 18-16.

Though the Panthers took a 27-21 lead, they could not hold on and Jenn Brown’s kill tied the game at 29. Playing to extend its season as Diana Andreyko took it upon herself to make two kills to let Pitt live another game.

In the deciding match, Marquette ripped off four straight points to take a 20-16 lead. A block by Stephanie Ross and Jessica Moses cut the lead to 20-18, but Pitt wouldn’t get any closer. The Golden Eagles won game four, 30-24. Pitt hit just .042 in its last game compared to Marquette’s .200.

In what could be her last match, Boroumand gave it her all to inspire her teammates. The senior from Red Deer, Alberta tallied 50 assists and six blocks.

“Azadeh performed great in potentially her last match but didn’t get a lot of support from her underclassmen, so that was disappointing,” said Beerman.

Ross had 19 kills, while Andreyko chipped in 18 and Campbell added 10 kills and 10 digs. Freshman libero Michelle Rossi had 30 digs, her second match of 30 digs or higher. Moses had seven blocks.

Jamie Muller led the Golden Eagles with 21 kills and 20 digs, and Kimberly Todd added 19 kills and 18 digs. Brown made 18 blocks and Monica Renfrow dished out 52 assists for Marquette.

Last season, Pitt was eliminated in the first round to No. 3 seed Syracuse in five sets, after winning the first two games. Marquette (16-13) lost to No. 2 seed Louisville on Saturday, 3-2.

The Panthers will wait until November 26 to see if they are selected into the NCAA Tournament, which Beerman says is “about a 10 percent chance of happening.”

“All things considered, I think 22-9 and a third-place finish in the Big East season wasn’t too bad,” reflected Beerman.