Volleyball rebounds with sweep of Marshall

After going 1-2 while hosting the Pittsburgh Invitational, the Panther volleyball team was… After going 1-2 while hosting the Pittsburgh Invitational, the Panther volleyball team was eager to get back in the win column against Marshall.

Pitt swept the Thundering Herd, 3-0, but was given all they could handle throughout the game.

The lead changed hands throughout the opening game, with Marshall leading as late as 24-23, but the Panthers tallied 5 straight points and held off a late Marshall run to nab a 30-27 frontrunner. Senior Gini Ullery made up for time she lost to an injury during last Friday’s game versus Maryland by recording four of her 10 kills in the first match.

The Panthers led for most of the second game, narrowly winning, 30-27. The Panthers broke a 10-all tie to take an 11-10 lead that they never relinquished. In the third game, Marshall very nearly avoided the sweep, but the Panthers proved to be too much to handle.

The game was tied at 25 when Diana Andreyko took over for the Panthers. She notched a point when she knocked an attack off Marshall defender Taylor Tanner’s leg, and followed with another kill.

Megan McGrane then added an ace. Marshall was able to record one final point, but that would be all as Andreyko delivered two kills to close the night with a 30-26 victory. The sophomore admitted that this was the kind of match Pitt needed to get back on track after the weekend tournament.

“We threw away a lot of games that we should have won,” she said of the Pittsburgh Invitational, “and today it was time for us to come out and really compete. We didn’t really care about mistakes or making big plays. We just wanted to come out and play as a team and have fun.”

Andreyko’s 18 kills led the Panthers. Ullery also reached double figures in kills, tallying 10. McGrane notched 17 digs, while freshman setter Nicole Taurence put up 39 assists. Marshall was led by Kelly-Ann Billingly’s 14 kills and setter Maggie Arias’ 40 assists.

Pitt head coach Chris Beerman was pleased with the victory.

“I really like this win coming off the weekend where we didn’t play well at all,” he said. “I thought that was the biggest thing, to see a team three days later play better.”

The play of his freshmen also had the coach excited.

“They’re learning what Pitt volleyball is all about,” said the sixth-year head coach. “It’s all stuff we’ve done in the past: step up, make big plays at the end, beat people. They’re starting to learn that, and I saw a little of that tonight. We played really tough at the end.”

But Beerman isn’t spending his time celebrating the maturing of his freshmen, as he has his team gearing up for the Buckeye Invitational. The Panthers take on No. 14 Ohio State tonight, and either Duke or Brigham Young on Saturday. While the coach knows better than to look past these games, Wednesday’s sweep has him feeling pleased with the Panthers’ chances.

“Ohio State’s already gone five with Bowling Green and Kent State, so anything’s possible,” he pointed out. “If we play well and play very competitive and confidently, we have a chance.”