Take Two: Panther Volleyball Improves to 16-4

Photo credit to Wade Aiken.
Photo credit to Wade Aiken.

Pitt-Bradford won a pair of matches Saturday, rallying to defeat Franciscan 3-2 before knocking off Houghton 3-1 in the nightcap.

For the second straight match, the Panthers fell into a 0-2 hole. Unlike the previous instance, Pitt-Bradford completed the comeback, knocking off Franciscan 24-26, 21-25, 25-11, 25-16, 15-9. The Barons entered the season as two-time defending AMCC champions and the consensus favorite to repeat.

Christina Rauh recorded her third triple-double of the season, posting 10 kills, 36 assists and 20 digs to lead the Panthers. Kirsten Platz paced the attack with a team-high 16 kills and Alexis Dhayer and Rose Thacker had eight apiece. Rauh totaled four aces and Erin Fagan contributed three. Dhayer collected 17 digs and Meagan Welsh had a season-high 16. Thacker added three blocks in the win.

In a sloppy, late night affair between both teams, the Panthers regrouped after a dismal first set to defeat Houghton 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-22. It marks the first time ever Pitt-Bradford has won consecutive matches against the Highlanders; the Panthers defeated Houghton by the same score on Sept. 15.

Rauh netted her second triple-double of the day, totaling 10 kills, 33 assists and 23 digs. Platz registered 11 kills, and four different Panthers had two aces each. Welsh posted 20 digs, Brianna Majot logged 13 and Courtney Holzwarth had 10. Thacker and Platz totaled three blocks apiece.

Pitt-Bradford improves to 16-4 on the season, and more importantly, 4-0 in the AMCC. The Panthers return to action Tuesday at D'Youville.