Nov. 8, 2009
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball team dropped its second match of the weekend falling 3-0 (21-25, 20-25, 20-25) at Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse.
Sophomore Maggie Mergen notched 10 kills for Villanova (16-11, 5-7 BIG EAST). Classmate Maria Nolan added six kills and a .400 clip.
Sophomore libero Kim Maroon collected 16 digs, while classmate Kara Chatham posted nine.
Sophomore Courtney Oertli dished out 28 assists.
After Nolan connected for a kill in the first set, the Wildcats led Pitt, 11-7, but gave up the lead as the Panthers came back to tie the set at 14 each. Villanova called timeout and the teams traded points back-and-forth after the break. The Panthers grabbed a 23-19 lead forcing `Nova into its last timeout and Mergen connected on a kill following the break to close within three points, 23-20, though Pitt closed out the set with a 25-21 victory.
The Wildcats got on the board first in the second frame jumping out to a 10-4 advantage after three consecutive errors from the Panthers. Pittsburgh used an 8-3 run after a timeout to close within two points, 14-12, as the Wildcats would use a timeout to regroup. The Panthers tied the game and then scored four unanswered points to take their first lead of the set, 18-14. `Nova used a final timeout after back-to-back errors, but Pitt scored four more unanswered points to serve for set point at 24-19. Mergen found the floor for a kill, but the Panthers quickly ended the set with a 25-20 win.
Trailing 16-8 early in the third set, the Wildcats went on a 7-1 run to close to within two points, 17-15, but Pitt answered with a kill and `Nova used its last timeout. Nolan and senior Elysse Studzinski hit back-to-back kills to get to within one point, 21-20, but the Panthers were able to score four-in-a-row and close out the match with a 25-20 victory.
The Wildcats will close out the 2009 regular season next weekend traveling to Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m. before heading to Marquette on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Villanova is still in the hunt for a BIG EAST Tournament berth and will face tough competition in the final weekend of play.
