Volleyball back in top 25 after win over UNO
Chris York
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
The Gorillas move their winning streak to four with a 3-1 victory over No. 20 Nebraska-Omaha last Friday. PSU (18-9, 8-5 MIAA) moved back into the AVCA top 25 at No. 24, and are now tied for fourth in MIAA following the conference win.
"It's a good reward for this team to be in that position, that when they do play well, the acknowledgement that comes from the AVCA as a top 25 team certainly puts them in good spirits," coach Ibraheem Suberu said.
Pitt got off to a slow start falling behind 1-8 to start the first set, but went on an 11-5 run to close the gap at 12-13. The set would go back-and-forth with UNO finishing off the Gorillas 21-25.
"We had a few breakdowns defensively, our service receive was off, and that's the reason we were down," Suberu said. "But, closing the gap in the second half of the first set and really making it close, that carried on to the second, third and fourth set."
The second set went much of the way of the first as the two teams battled closely through the entire match. PSU held a late 18-15 lead, but seven straight points by the Mavericks put UNO in the drivers seat with a 22-18 advantage. The Gorillas dug deep and took seven straight points of their own to take the second set 25-22.
"We told our team members just to stay within their skill, and if situations come up that we need to make decisions, then we make the right choice," Suberu said.
Pitt led for most of the first half of the third set, but by only as much as three points. The Gorillas held a 12-9 lead when UNO rattled off four straight points to get their first lead of the third set, 12-13. The Mavericks also could only get a three-point advantage before PSU came back to tie the game at 18 a piece. The Gorilla defense stepped up and created points in the end to win the third set 25-21.
"Defensive pressure and intensity was very solid and I felt that point scoring at critical times was very good as well," Suberu said.
Only one point separated the teams early in the fourth set, until PSU was able to open up a 10-8 lead. Pitt got a three-point lead at 15-12, but a 4-8 run by the Mavericks gave UNO a 19-20 advantage. The final six points of the set for PSU were a battle, but they were able to hold off UNO to take the game 25-22.
"It's a good reward for this team to be in that position, that when they do play well, the acknowledgement that comes from the AVCA as a top 25 team certainly puts them in good spirits," coach Ibraheem Suberu said.
Pitt got off to a slow start falling behind 1-8 to start the first set, but went on an 11-5 run to close the gap at 12-13. The set would go back-and-forth with UNO finishing off the Gorillas 21-25.
"We had a few breakdowns defensively, our service receive was off, and that's the reason we were down," Suberu said. "But, closing the gap in the second half of the first set and really making it close, that carried on to the second, third and fourth set."
The second set went much of the way of the first as the two teams battled closely through the entire match. PSU held a late 18-15 lead, but seven straight points by the Mavericks put UNO in the drivers seat with a 22-18 advantage. The Gorillas dug deep and took seven straight points of their own to take the second set 25-22.
"We told our team members just to stay within their skill, and if situations come up that we need to make decisions, then we make the right choice," Suberu said.
Pitt led for most of the first half of the third set, but by only as much as three points. The Gorillas held a 12-9 lead when UNO rattled off four straight points to get their first lead of the third set, 12-13. The Mavericks also could only get a three-point advantage before PSU came back to tie the game at 18 a piece. The Gorilla defense stepped up and created points in the end to win the third set 25-21.
"Defensive pressure and intensity was very solid and I felt that point scoring at critical times was very good as well," Suberu said.
Only one point separated the teams early in the fourth set, until PSU was able to open up a 10-8 lead. Pitt got a three-point lead at 15-12, but a 4-8 run by the Mavericks gave UNO a 19-20 advantage. The final six points of the set for PSU were a battle, but they were able to hold off UNO to take the game 25-22.
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