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Hokies Halt Pittsburgh's 12-Match Win Streak
Tech sweeps the Panthers, 3-0
October 31, 2003

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech volleyball team handed conference foe Pittsburgh its first BIG EAST loss of the year when it swept the Panthers, 3-0, Friday evening at Cassell Coliseum. The loss stopped a 12-match winning streak for Pittsburgh. Game scores were 30-27, 30-17, 30-26.

Trading points back and forth in the first game, the Panthers took a 17-15 lead until three straight kills from Tech junior Annie Spicer put the Hokies up 18-17. After 13 tied scores and four lead changes, the Hokies pulled off a 30-27 victory. Spicer led the game with six kills, while Megan Miller of Pittsburgh had five kills.

The Hokies came out strong in game two, taking an early 6-2 lead. Virginia Tech capitalized on three ball handling errors by the Panthers bringing the score to 11-6. Keeping the momentum going, the Hokies won the game, 30-17. Tech freshman Katie Esbrook led the game with four kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while senior Jenny Hill and freshman Allie Kupec each recorded three block assists. Virginia Tech held the Panthers to a -.128 hitting percentage.

Three huge kills from Hill sent the Hokies on an 8-3 roll at the start of game three. Pittsburgh fought back, scoring seven straight points to bring the game to 14-13. Virginia Tech responded, scoring four consecutive points that included two kills by Esbrook. The Panthers were unable to hold off the Hokies, who completed the sweep with a 30-26 win in the third and final game.

Virginia Tech held the Panthers, who are ranked 28th in the NCAA in hitting percentage, to a .062 percentage for the match. Esbrook led the match with 12 kills, hit .476 and tallied four block assists. Spicer recorded her 14th double-double of the season and has now registered 10 or more kills in all 23 matches thus far. She had 10 kills and a match-high 15 digs in the victory. Sarah Rollman and Miller of Pittsburgh each tallied 10 kills.

With an ace, Spicer moved into a tie for ninth place in Tech's record book for career service aces with 112.

Heading into the match, the Panthers had won 12 consecutive matches and 16 of 17 since a 2-2 start this season. Pittsburgh had also won 38 of its last 42 games and 10 straight BIG EAST matches heading into Friday night's contest.

The Hokies improve to 11-12 overall and 5-3 in the BIG EAST, while the Panthers fall to 18-4 overall and 7-1 in the conference.