Oct. 4, 2003

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova captured the first two games of the match, but could not hold on as Pittsburgh rallied for a 3-2 win in BIG EAST volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at Jake Nevin Field House. The Wildcats won 30-28 and 30-23 before the Panthers posted scores of 30-25, 30-18 and 15-12 in the final three games to go on for the win.

Pittsburgh (12-3, 3-0) jumped out early in game one, holding leads of 8-5 and 11-8, before Katie Lanting delivered consecutive kills to give Villanova its first lead, 15-14. The teams traded points until Celine Nguyen tied the score at 21-21. The Wildcats then opened up its largest lead of the game, 25-22, behind two kills from Adrian Semrau and block assists by Semrau and Kerri Sullivan. Pittsburgh closed to 29-28, but then Erin Birunas drilled the game-winner.

In game two, Villanova (3-12, 0-3) continued its torrid offensive attack, hitting .405, led by Lanting's six kills on nine attempts (.667). The 'Cats jumped on the Panthers 13-8, then Kelly Ludwig and Nguyen helped push Villanova ahead 19-12. Megan Miller kept Pittsburgh close with two kills and a block assist to make the score 24-18. Pittsburgh closed to within 27-22, but a Sullivan kill and two service aces by Semrau closed out the game.

Game three featured the most see-saw action of the afternoon, with neither team leading by more than three points early. With the score tied at 19-19, Sullivan and Nguyen each scored points to put the 'Cats ahead 21-19. The Panthers answered with a kill by Wendy Hatlestad and three kills by Abby Fechhelm to go out in front, 25-22. Villanova closed within 25-24 thanks to consecutive kills by Sullivan. Then Sarah Rollman and Hatlestad teamed to finish off the 30-25 win.

Pittsburgh dominated game four, racing to a 9-5 lead and then opening up advantages of 16-11 and 20-13 en route to the 30-18 decision to knot the match at two games apiece.

In the fifth and deciding game, Pittsburgh took the early lead, at 4-2. Lanting, Birunas and Nguyen helped keep the 'Cats close at 8-7. Then Rollman and Miller got hot and gave the Panthers a 10-7 advantage. The Wildcats closed to within one again at 12-11 on a kill by Semrau, but that was as close as Villanova would get, dropping the game, 15-12.

Lanting sparked the Wildcats with 20 kills, and Sullivan finished with 19 kills and three block assists. Semrau tallied 13 kills and five block assists, while Birunas also hit double figures with 10 kills. Sam Hartwell and Nguyen led the defensive effort, with 19 and 17 digs, respectively.

For Pittsburgh, Hatlestad finished with a match-high 25 kills, while Rollman chipped in with 18.

Villanova returns to BIG EAST action on Sunday at 2 p.m. when West Virginia visits Jake Nevin Field House.