Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Hokies (7-15, 1-11 ACC) fell to No. 1 Pitt (21-1, 11-1 ACC) on Sunday afternoon in three sets (15-25,21-25, 20-25).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set one opened with a slow start from the young Hokie squad with the No. 1 Pitt Panthers jumping out to a 15-5 advantage. While working to ensure the advantage didn't grow, the Hokies spread the action with six members of the team tallying kills and Leandra Mangual Duran collecting six digs. The Panthers eventually took set one, 25-15.
Set two was a different vibe, with the Hokies staying within four points of the country's best team. With six tie scores and six lead changes, the Hokies closed in on the Panthers at the 19-20 mark, but were unable to seal the set, falling 21-25. The second set brought 17 flawless receptions for Belle Patrick, seven digs for Leandra Mangual Duran, and a squad-high four kills for Viktoria Wahlgren.
The Hokies and the Panthers traded serving rights for the first 20 serves of the third set until the Hokies were able to pull away to a 13-9 lead. The lead was maintained to an 18-14 advantage with momentum stemming from two crucial blocks from Jordan Hallman and four kills from Sarah Malinowski, but Pitt hit the 18-14 mark and when on a 10-point scoring run to reach match point. The Hokies were able to secured two more points but eventually fell in set three, 20-25, to the Panthers.
GAME NOTES
- Sarah Malinowski led the squad offensively with eight kills and notched one dig and two block assists.
- Viktoria Wahlgren led the squad with seven kills on a .417 clip with 15 assists, six digs and one block.
- Leandra Mangual Duran averaged 5.33 digs per set for 16 total, her highest average per set of the season.
- Jordan Hallman boasted the team-hgih of three total blocks with one solo and two assists.
- Belle Patrick dished three aces with six kills, seven digs and one block assist.
- Tech totaled 33 kills, 32 assists, 42 digs, nine total blocks and three aces.
UP NEXT
The Hokies head out on the road for bout one of the Commonwelath Clash with the Virginia Cavaliers. The squad heads to Charlottesville for a match on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before returning to Cassell for part two of the Clash on Friday.