PITTSBURGH, Pa. - In WKU's first match of the weekend in Pittsburgh, the Lady Toppers picked up a five-set victory over the host Panthers while Alyssa Cavanaugh achieved her 1,000th career kill in the decisive fifth set. Both WKU and Pittsburgh were receiving votes in the latest poll entering the weekend Panther Challenge from the Fitzgerald Field House.
"What a gutty performance by our team," shared head coach Travis Hudson. "We didn't play our best, but we still found a way to beat Pitt on their home court. I'm very proud of this team."
Pittsburgh was able to do what no other team could so far in 2016 against the Lady Toppers, win the first set. The Panthers ended WKU's streak of 11-consecutive first-set victories with a 25-15 win in the set. The Lady Toppers were held to a .000 hitting percentage with just six kills and an equal number of errors. WKU produced 28 attacks in the frame as a squad.
WKU responded well to losing in the first frame for the first time of the season, claiming a 28-26 second-set victory over the hosts. As a unit, the Lady Toppers registered 18 kills in the frame against just four errors on 27 attacks for a .298 hitting percentage. Cavanaugh recorded kills to give WKU its 27th and 28th points of the frame.
Coming out of the long break, WKU jumped ahead to a quick 7-3 lead and forced an early Panther timeout. The Lady Toppers worked ahead to a 15-10 lead and led by as much as 20-15 to force Pitt to use its second stop. Pittsburgh rattled off six straight points to take a late 21-20 lead over the Lady Toppers but a Georgia O'Connell ace gave WKU set point and Lucas' fifth kill of the evening put WKU ahead in the match 2-1.
Set four saw a trio of ties between the sides with the latest one occurring at the 8-8 mark before Pittsburgh went the distance. Rachel Anderson's career-best 17th kill of the contest put the Lady Toppers up 6-4 early. At the conclusion of the set, Cavanaugh was just two kills away from achieving her career milestone.
Action in set five did not disappoint. The set to 15 saw five ties in the frame with each side owning a two-point lead in it. A 12-11 WKU lead forced Pitt to call for a timeout but the Lady Toppers claimed the next two points to go up 14-11 in the decider. Two serves later, Cavanaugh's 18th kill of the outing gave WKU possession of the set (15-12) and match.
Cavanaugh was not the only Lady Topper to have a career showing. Lucas became the first WKU player since Tara Thomas in 2001 to record a 20/20 double double; registering 43 assists and 22 digs. Anderson finished with a career-best 19 kills in the match and a pair of service aces to go along with six blocks.
Leading the Lady Toppers in digs was O'Connell with a 23-dig outing. The senior libero now owns sole possession of eighth place on the Lady Topper career digs top-10 list. Sydney Engle finished with nine digs in the outing.
WKU finished with 15 blocks as a unit in the match. Anderson and Amara Listenbee each contributed a solo stop and five block assists.
Emma Kowalkowski tied her career-best outing with three service aces against the Panthers.
The Lady Toppers will play two matches on Saturday and look to better their 10-2 record. To open the day, WKU will face a 2015 NCAA Tournament team in Robert Morris at 11 a.m. CT. Following the early contest, the Red and White will take on Lehigh at 3:30 p.m. CT to conclude play at the Panther Challenge.
