Pitt extends winning streak

The Pitt volleyball team went on the road and beat two Big East opponents over the weekend… The Pitt volleyball team went on the road and beat two Big East opponents over the weekend to increase their winning streak to seven matches.

The Panthers (13-3 overall, 3-0 Big East) lost the first two games to Villanova (4-12, 1-3), but gathered themselves together to sweep the next three games. The next day, Pitt traveled to Georgetown (5-11, 1-3) and easily beat the Hoyas in three games.

Pitt 3, Villanova 2

Pitt came out sluggish against the Wildcats, losing the first two games, 30-28 and 30-23, but managed to step it up and win the final three games 30-25, 30-18 and 15-12.

“The hard thing is sometimes you play teams that … are obviously better than their record and their stats. If [we] come out just thinking they are going to roll over – and that happens a lot in sports … you just gotta try to fight that,” head coach Chris Beerman said.

Outside hitter Wendy Hatlestad led the way with a match-high 25 kills, a .339 hitting percentage and nine digs.

Also contributing to the attack were outside hitter Sarah Rollman, with 18 kills and 16 digs, and middle hitter Megan Miller, with 15 kills.

Setter Lindsey Macke had nine digs to go with her match-high 50 assists. Also contributing was outside hitter Abby Fechhelm, with 17 digs and eight kills, and libero Megan McGrane, with a match-high 21 digs.

Katie Lanting and Kerri Sullivan combined for 39 kills for the Wildcats in a losing effort.

Pitt 3, Georgetown 0

Determined not to repeat the same slow start from the Villanova match, Pitt came out firing and swept Georgetown 30-25, 30-24 and 30-22 to remain undefeated in Big East play.

Miller came out with a dominating offensive performance, registering a match-high 19 kills on only 27 attempts for a .630 hitting percentage.

Hatlestad added 16 kills and a match-high 15 digs for the Panthers. For the week, she hit .333 with 41 kills and 24 digs, which earned her the Big East co-player of the week honor for the second time in three weeks.

“Wendy [Hatlestad] and Megan Miller just played phenomenally. They just continue to lead us – both playing like all-conference type players. That’s been a great bonus to have them play so well each match,” Beerman said.

Macke contributed a match-high 42 assists, McGrane tallied 10 digs and Rollman added seven kills and 11 digs for Pitt.

Rachel Nelson led the Hoyas with 16 kills and 11 digs.

The Panthers will host Connecticut on Friday at 7 p.m. and St. John’s Sunday at 2 p.m. in Fitzgerald Field House.