St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Pittsburgh
Pitt Defeats St. John's In Straight Sets
10/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2012
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - St. John's fell to 4-4 in the BIG EAST with a 3-0 loss (25-21, 25-21, 25-14) at the hands of Pitt on Friday night in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Panthers outhit the Red Storm, .366 to .175, and prevented the BIG EAST services aces leader from recording more than one ace on the night. Pittsburgh improved to 13-10 on the season and 4-5 in the BIG EAST.
The Panthers used a run of at least four unanswered points to distance itself from St. John's in all three sets. Its largest run came in the third set when the score was tied at 10-10. A kill by Jessica Wynn broke the tie and sparked a run of seven straight points to put the Panthers up, 17-10.
Wynn had three kills during the 7-0 run and finished with a match-high 12 kills and .529 hitting percentage.
The Red Storm's leading attacker was senior Milica Krstojevic, who had a team-high 11 kills and .500 hitting percentage. She also chipped in a dig and tied for the team lead in blocks with three.
Freshman Karin Palgutova, who entered the match with the fifth-highest aces per set average in the nation, was held without an ace. She did, however, rack up 10 kills, which is the fifth-straight match the freshman has put up double-digit kill numbers. The Slovakian also contributed eight digs and tied with Krstojevic for the team lead in blocks (3).
Senior Gabriela Petkova and freshman Shawna-Lei Santos shared the libero duties and both ended up with nine digs. Santos, who entered the night with the eighth-best service aces per set average, collected the Red Storm's one service ace in the match.
UP NEXT
St. John's will travel to Tampa, Fla. for a match against USF (12-10, 4-5) on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. The Bulls lost to UConn in five sets on Friday night at home.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
- USF won both of its matches at home last weekend, sweeping Villanova and topping Georgetown, 3-2.
- Freshman outside hitter Erin Fairs was named last week's BIG EAST Freshman of the Week after posting double-doubles against Villanova and Georgetown. She entered the weekend in second place on the squad in kills per set (2.55) and third in digs per set (2.41).
- Senior middle blocker Caitlyn Breen entered the weekend in fifth place in the league in blocks with a 1.13 per set average.
- Sophomore outside hitter Valerie El Houssine entered the weekend in sixth place in the BIG EAST in service aces per set (0.35). She was also the squad's leader in kills per set (2.58).
- As a team, the Bulls entered the weekend in fourth place in opponent hitting percentage (.174), fifth in assists per set (12.62), and third in blocks per set (2.32).
