Virginia Falls 3-1 to Pitt in Season Finale
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Box Score Nov. 26, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team fell to Pitt, 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-17, 25-11) to close the 2016 season on Saturday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
“I thought we could hang with them offensively, and we did,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “Our passing broke down for too long at times, which is a replay of what happened up there earlier this season. They were able to get in a serving rhythm and we couldn’t get out of it. We worked really hard on the offensive end and had some really nice stretches of volleyball, they just weren’t long enough.”
Virginia (7-25, 4-16 ACC) was out-hit by Pittsburgh (24-8, 15-5 ACC), .403-.233, with 43 kills to 58. The Panthers also led in aces (10-5) and digs (52-45). The Cavaliers had 7.0 blocks to 6.0.
Three players finished with double-figure kills for UVA. Senior Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the team with 13 kills, and senior Jasmine Burton (West Hills, Calif.) and freshman Kiley Banker (West Lafayette, Ind.) each added 10 kills. Stephanie Williams led Pitt with 15 kills.
Freshman Jennifer Wineholt (San Diego, Calif.) dished out 38 assists and had a team-high 10 digs to record a double-double. Burton and redshirt freshman Kat Young (Chantilly, Va.) each had three blocks.
The teams traded points to begin the first set, until a kill then a block by Kole gave Virginia a 9-7 lead as Pitt called timeout. The Panthers then began a 10-2 run to go ahead 17-11. The Cavaliers scored two-straight with a kill and ace for Burton, but Pitt continued to control the set, taking a 25-17 win.
UVA opened up an 8-3 lead in the second set. Pitt cut the lead to 9-7, but a 3-0 run capped off by two-straight blocks put the Cavaliers up 12-7. Virginia continued to stretch its lead and closed the set on a 3-1 run to win 25-18 and tie the match at 1-1. Virginia hit .433 in the second set, with Kole and Banker each recording five kills.
The Cavaliers fell behind 6-2 early in the third. After a timeout, Virginia scored two-straight with a kill by Banker and an ace for Burton to cut it to two. UVA cut the lead to 19-15, but a 6-2 run to close the set gave Pitt a 25-17 win.
In the fourth set, the teams were back and forth until a 7-0 run gave Pitt an 11-5 lead. The Cavaliers and Panthers traded points again, but Pitt continued to pull away with a 5-0 run to close the set and secure the win 25-11.
“I really appreciate the senior’s efforts they have given over the last four years,” Hohenshelt said. “They have been here everyday, putting in the time that it takes to be a good program and with their efforts they have shown on the court, in the classroom and locker room I am confident of where this program is going. I told them it’s not how I imagined their senior year to be, but in life there are a lot of ups and downs and if this is one of their downs then they will live a pretty good life. I hope they have learned as much from me as I have from them and I am very proud to have coached them.”