in Pitt Football 827 Words

Pitt vs Minnesota; WVB Round II Thread

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Following are some websites that might help Pitt fans cheer the Womenโ€™s Volleyball Team to a 2nd round tourney victory tonight. So, if you can stay awake until the start time of 10:30 pm ET and watch it then good for you because Iโ€™ll read about it the next day. 

These links can be used for in-game commenting research also.  First off the Minnesota Gopherettes:

Long Island University Athletics - link to home

MINN Volleyball Homepage

MINN Volleyball 2020-21 Schedule

MINN Volleyball 2020-21 Stats

MINN Volleyball 2020-21 Roster

As for our Panthers โ€“ here is some info to read before, during and after the game. Let’s hope we can pull this off. Second round is, I believe, the farthest we have gotten in the NCAA Tournament – correct? Let’s go for three rounds at least.

Pittsburgh Panthers Primary Logo | Sports Logo History

Pitt Volleyball Homepage

Pitt Volleyball 2020-21 Schedule

Pitt Volleyball 2020-21 Stats

Pitt Volleyball 2020-21 Roster

Here is an article about the game on the Gopher’s WVB Home Page…

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Start Time: 12:01 p.m.
Stream: ESPN3 (Stream, please use cable provider if package includes ESPN Channels; Eric Frede – play-by-play; Katie George – analyst)
Live Stats: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/volleyball-women/d1/2021

SERIES INFORMATION

Third All-Time Meeting vs. Pittsburgh
Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: 1999
First Meeting: 1990
Last Loss: 1990
Streak: Minnesota, W-1

HEADING INTO THE MATCH

The University of Minnesota is the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. With the three-seed, Minnesota has a first-round bye and played its opening match of the NCAA Tournament on April 15, as the Golden Gophers earned a 3-0 win (25-19, 25-21, 25-18) over Georgia Tech.

Minnesota had a well-balanced attack as the Gophers had three individuals in double-digit kills. Stephanie Samedy and Adanna Rollins each had 13 kills and hit over .340, while Taylor Landfair had 11 kills. Melani Shaffmaster added a double double with 32 assists and a team-best 16 kills, while Regan Pittman had six blocks. With the win, it solidified Minnesota’s spot in the Regional Semifinal and faces Pittsburgh on Sunday. 

The 2021 season marks the 25th year the Golden Gophers have advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament six-straight seasons and eight under ninth-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Minnesota has had a top 10 seed the past six seasons. The Gophers were the No. 2 seed in 2015, 2016 and 2018, No. 3 this year, and the No. 7 seed in both 2017 and 2019. In all, Minnesota has been to six Final Fours since 2003.

The Gophers have also made it as far as nine Sweet 16 berths and two Elite 8 appearances. Now in their 25th NCAA appearance,  it marks the 18th Regional Semifinal match in program history and seventh under head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Although the Gophers missed the 2014 championship, Minnesota will now play in their 10th-straight Sweet 16 match when making the tournament. 

Minnesota is 8-9 all-time in the Round of 16, including a 4-3 mark under McCutcheon. The Gophers have advanced to the Regional Final in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019 under McCutcheon. Minnesota competed in a five-set battle against Florida in 2019 and advanced to the Regional Final. 

 Regan Pittman is closing in on her 500th career block for the Golden Gophers, now sitting at 491. She currently ranks ninth in school history behind former Gopher Paige Tapp, who had 495 in her Gopher career. 

Should the Gophers win over Pittsburgh (Editor’s note: Which they won’t ), they would play the winner of Louisville versus Washington on Monday. Match time is set for 11 a.m., on ESPN2. 

ABOUT PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, its 16th appearance in program history. Sunday’s match marks its first Sweet 16 appearance in school history. The Panthers earned their trip to the Regional Semifinals with wins over LIU (3-0) and upset No. 14 seed Utah (3-0). The Panthers are also riding a 14-match win streak into the Sweet 16. 

Kayla Lund leads the Panthers in kills (299), kills per set (3.83), aces (32), digs (242) and points (352.5). Lexis Akeo and Kylee Levers average 5.95 and 5.55 assists per set, while Sabrina Starks averages 1.31 blocks per set. Lund was named ACC’s Volleyball Player of the Year, her second honor back-to-back years. Lund and Chinaza Ndee were named First Team All-ACC, while Starks was named to the second team.

Folks – I’m testing out my audio for starting up some podcasts and round table type discussions. I have a new audio program so let me know if it works in the comments – thanks.

Well, the above seems to work. Now I have a favor to ask of you all. I’d like to do some podcasting but want to talk about things you all are most interested in. Could you take a moment and email me some suggestions you might have that will start some in-depth discussion after listening to the podcast? Left up to me it would be all football, but I hope your suggestions can be better than just that. My email is: rkohberger@gmail.com.

Thanks –

Hail to Pitt!!

209 thoughts on “Pitt vs Minnesota; WVB Round II Thread”

  1. Pitt Softball is beating UNC 5-4 after five. Two more innings. Will they stay with the softball game at 7 pm or switch to the menโ€™s soccer game? Iโ€™m guessing they will stay with softball.

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  2. Said this on other thread but want to put it here also:

    Isn’t this fun to have an actual group interest in the smaller sports? I never really gave them a second thought before – even basketball wasn’t really on my radar. But now because you all have written and sent in such great articles I find myself looking forward to the volleyball, soccer and baseball games.

    Liked by 6 people

  3. They just announced that the soccer game will begin on ACCN Extra, since the Pitt softball game is still on ACCN.

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    1. That is a bummer and a head scratcher. Our Soccer team is ranked #1 and playing for the ACC championship.

      The softball team is ranked 356th and playing for the seat in the basement.

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        1. You don’t sound like the Gunner either – “That spike was in by a gnat’s eyelash. Spike, set and match – we had’em all the way.”

          PS. Would love to hear Myron and the Gunner again.

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    1. I expect to see you then at the regionals with Erie. Iโ€™m contemplating depending on the location in May. Been over 25 years since a regional.

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    1. Pitt will be lucky to draw 500 assuming the game is played with covid cases rising again.

      I donโ€™t trust any attendance number released by Pitt.

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  12. Well that was disappointing. You can say goodbye to a number one seed. Their path to a final 4 becomes far more difficult. Clemson has a stout D. They just showed every team how to shut down Pitts offense. I thought this team was more flash than substance this year. Georgetown is by far the best team in my opinion. That same team that beat Pitt 5-0 in the playoffs last year. That team. Pitt is definitely top ten but no number one. Rpi has them at around 7. Thatโ€™s where Iโ€™d place them.

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    1. so the coach can’t overcome the soft?

      this coach is falling short in recruiting soft euros? shouldn’t he know better? how long has he been there? time move on, what’s the buyout? anyone have a list?

      Liked by 2 people

  14. oh, sorry, forgot to lambaste the AD on this concurrently

    anything else I should throw in? under?

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  16. Clemson scored off a corner kick in the first half. And then it looked like they went into a 4-5-1 formation which is a defensive and ball possessing scheme in the second half.

    Think of it this way. Clemson returned a punt for a touchdown in the first half and then went to a ball control running game in the second half. Clemson also played a 3-4 D with two safeties.

    Insurance goal late in the game

    https://pittnews.com/article/165148/sports/no-1-pitt-mens-soccer-foiled-again-by-no-4-clemson-in-chance-for-ncaa-tournament-bid/

    Come selection day on Monday, I expect Pitt to get a number two seed. Probably making them the fifth or sixth highest ranked team in the playoffs. Most likely clemson gets a number one and pitt is in their bracket.

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    1. Not so fast Tex… those Ruskiโ€™s blew out the NHL All Star team in the 1st game they played… NHL … Russians would @cycleโ€ the puck- NHL would go on to adopt the Soviet style…

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        1. Pitt got rattled by some very physical play. Clemson took them off their game and Pitt never recovered. Coach Jay needs to address this blueprint or Pitt wonโ€™t be advancing far. Euros donโ€™t play a physical game. They arenโ€™t taught that at academy. Heck pitt has a Frenchmen as their midfielder. He probably never made a sliding tackle in his life.

          Tex – no fan of any Russian. Still soviets to me.

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  20. โ€”Nice to see Walt Harris on the sideline at Pittโ€™s scrimmage at Heinz. Pitt should make Walt a passing game advisor – but then again we already have a slew of people who work for Pitt football…

    โ€”And I saw a running back make a quick move and was surprised to see it was AJ Davis. I was perplexed with him playing last season because he seemed just plain slow. Hoping heโ€™s somehow revitalized for this season, but I expect to see mainly Izzy and Vincent Davis back there.

    โ€”And yes, our very own Lucas Krull caught a touchdown pass. I expect Iโ€™m in the vast minority, but I think Krull and Mack to have big seasons.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Please give a running commentary today on the VB Minnesota game. I cannot get ESPN 3 as my devices need an upgrade to IOS 13, to download the new espn app.but they are too old to take it. New phone is on the way. H2P.

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  22. Glad to see Walt Harris get involved. His knowledge of the passing game is tremendous. So is his dedication to Pitt football. They need to find a way to get him onboard…

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    1. If there was a way, they would have found it by now. Not sure on the pitt thinking with him. Iโ€™m puzzled. They bring him in but donโ€™t use him in any capacity. He truly is a QB whisperer. Whipple just mumbles.

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  25. I’m not sure of Walt’s age, but being a co-offensive coordinator sounds good to me. He could be in charge of the running game, which clearly needs help, instead of the passing game which he knows best. Whipple could hang on to the passing game and call the plays, for now…

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  26. I won’t be able to watch the live broadcast today. I haven’t decided yet if I will take the Hobie approach and make sure I am watching a PITT win or will commit to watching this sweet16 match after the fact without knowing the result..

    So, sorry danh72, when you actually care I will not be providing any updates or commentary.

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    1. I read through the Sandy post at 1:49pm and decided I will go ahead and watch the whole match although perhaps in the background as opposed to the apt attention I normally view with. Hopefully the service errors are reduced and PITT comes out on top. Although extremely unlikely, there is a slight chance the game is still going.

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  30. Pitt calls a timeout down 4-7. Need to keep it close. Pitt had yips at beginning of game with two straight errors. They still look tight.

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  32. Pitt made a run but Minnesota made a counterpunch and are now up 15-10. Lund needs to start executing better.

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  33. No little about volleyball but watching, this looks like a complete mismatch. Minnesota height and talent too much for Pitt. 17-11 Gophers

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  35. Minnesota up 23-21 but they call a timeout due to Pitt getting back into their game. Need to hold serve out of the timeout! Pitt getting looser! Lund getting better!

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    1. Hope Minnesota believes that. Do not think Pitt is that much lower in talent. We need to start recruiting bigger players like Russ!

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  38. Pitt loses first set 25-21. Pitt lost because of their own errors. If they eliminate the errors in the second set, it will be closer. Starks can take Pittman from Minnesota one on one.

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  39. Letโ€™s hope this is Pittโ€™s notorious slow start that Annie talked about.

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  40. Minnesota calls time out. Pitt up by 3, 8-5. Pitt blocking causing surprising Minnesota. Pitt stuffed a back row hit by Samedy.

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  43. Pitt up 13-8. Minnesota uses their second and last timeout. Doubt starting to creep into Minnesota players minds. Maybe this Pitt team is better than we thought. Need to hold serve after timeout!

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  45. Need to move away from Lund in a situation like that. Three time to her in a row! Pitt calls timeout up 16-13.

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  49. Pitt uses a timeout. Minnesota on a run after Pitt has another service error, Pitt’s fifth. Pitt still up 21-20 but Minnesota serving. Pitt has no more timeouts. Up to the players now!

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  52. Pitt takes Minnesota’s counterpunch in set and wins set 25-23. Minnesota now knows they are in a dog fight! Samedy is something else!

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  53. For those not able to watch the broadcast, that was the first set lost by all six Big 10 teams in the tournament. They were 22-0.

    Liked by 3 people

  59. Minnesota up 14-13 but they use their first timeout. Pitt service errors are killing them!!

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  60. Pitt uses its last timeout at 19-16 with Minnesota pulling away. Pitt needs to break Gophers’ serve out of timeout!

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  61. Pitt just canโ€™t overcome that 0-5 hole they started this set with. They are playing pretty even since then but canโ€™t get over the hump.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Reed cut my tirade over Pitt’s problems out of the Utah article. It was several paragraphs long. Yes, in the two Syracuse matches their serving was beyond horrible. It was ghastly! They had 4 aces to 21 errors. In those two matches they almost gave an entire set to Syracuse just with service errors. Pitt had some problems today against Minnesota. They managed to overcome them. Faki served very well today. Fisher is using her as much as possible.

      Liked by 1 person

  64. Like

  65. Pitt loses 25-20 in third set. Pitt got off to horrible start. Pitt needs to just play loose in this fourth set.

    Liked by 1 person

  66. Minnesota calls a timeout with Pitt up by three. Pitt came out better in fourth set. Keep playing loose!

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  67. Coach Fisher uses challenge for players sake! Probably not going to be overturned.

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  68. That ball was touched and one could see that from shirt of the defender n the challenge.
    Good game so far.
    H2P

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  72. More interest in womanโ€™s volleyball than with Gorilla calves or cheering on Capel and half his family on the staff. Sad how bad Football and Basketball are.

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    1. Itโ€™s sorta hard to have a major problem with the football program at this time, Upitt.
      Seriously, when compared to MBB, itโ€™s looking world-class. (Weโ€™ll see how they do this fall, then determine if itโ€™s a bust, or not.)

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  75. Pitt calls first timeout up 22-19. Need to break Minnesota serve after timeout.

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  78. Okay, Iโ€™m probably going to get ripped for saying this, but I watched the Pitt/Clemson soccer game last evening. I donโ€™t know how this game is going to end. But Volleyball is soooo much more exciting than soccer. By orders of magnitude!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. CLemson played a version of the trap made famous by the NJ Devils thatโ€™s why

      Youโ€™d like lacrosse.

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  82. Minnesota calls timeout with Pitt up 8-6 in 5th set. First team to get to 15 with a two point lead wins!

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  84. Pitt up 9-6. Minnesota uses last timeout. They will uses challenges now in lieu of timeouts.

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  86. Ah, it is still going. I tuned in just now. I guess I will be reading to catch up and decide later whether to watch this epic match or not.

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  93. Pitt uses their first timeout. Gophers on 2-0 run. Pitt needs to break Gophers serve!

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    1. They would need to beat either Washington or Louisville. Then theyโ€™d most likely play Kentucky. They are the number two in the nation. Behind Wisconsin.

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  108. Actually had a tear in my eye on that Pitt match point win. Women show more guts and fire in one day than Pitt Football shows last three years. Great coaching too! H2P!!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I would not limit to the last three years of football! It has been a lot longer than Pitt football has won with as much that was on the line today for the volleyball team!!

      Liked by 1 person

  110. Well my internet connection blew, so I didn’t see the game winning point, but I did see 14-11 PITT and know we won. This actually works well. I already know we won. Got a little excitement. Can still make my commitment in six minutes.

    Hobie and I are in for a treat whenever we do watch the replays.

    Congrats PITT volleyball student athletes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What’sup, no anxiety, stress or tension, just the solid assurance of a Pitt victory no matter what happens.

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    1. If you are serious, they’ll go on sale late August. Last year ( 2019) they were $15- and you could use them for any match. You could used 1 ticket or 15- didn’t matter. Very flexible use options. No assigned seats, but had a couple sections set aside for seas tix holders. No one checking tickets though. Best entertainment bargain ever!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wolfe, Annie, I m not sure if I’m ready for season tix yet but, I’d definitely be up for a couple of POV Volleyball group outings next year!

        Liked by 2 people

  117. Once we know our opponent, I will put something together on them. I will send it to Reed. Due to him travelling he may not be able to get to it. If he cannot get to it, I will post it in the comments around 9:00 AM tomorrow. You will get my unedited stream of consciousness version. Hope you like James Joyce:)

    Will be watching Penn State versus Texas live with my dear Penn State wife. Be nice. Lions have an uphill climb against the cows. Cows lost to Rice. Wish Rice would have played Lions. Would have been great match. Never count out a Russ Rose team!

    Liked by 2 people

  118. Pitt has now won 15 straight matches. Haven’t lost since the fall season.

    Cudos to Coach Fisher and the Pantherettes.

    Liked by 4 people

  119. If Coach Fisher canโ€™t take them past the Elite Eight he needs to be shown the door. After all, that was Jamieโ€™s ceiling and it wasnโ€™t good enough. Of course there are over 300 D1 basketball schools but ……

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A cow is a cow. We have Longhorns being raised in South Carolina by the way. It gets hot in South Carolina!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. But not Texas hot. 110 degrees. And you donโ€™t have gumbo soil. Thatโ€™s real tough to plough. Texas steers have you beat. And donโ€™t mention that movie. ๐Ÿค 

        Liked by 1 person

  122. If Heather has not been turning on the Victory Lights for the tournament wins until now, shame on her!! She better have them on tonight. Everyone that needs to tweet her to make it so! I already have!!

    Liked by 2 people

  123. Like I said before, fisher is hands down Pitts best coach. Coach Jay is second. But fisher develops players. He doesnโ€™t need to rely on a bunch of soft euros who are technically skilled but lack toughness and grit.

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    1. I think you are being overly harsh on coach Jay. He’s the best thing the soccer program has seen in a long time. ACC had 4 of the top 5 ranked teams. Clemson just doesn’t lose on their home pitch.

      Liked by 4 people

  124. Soccer is not my game but I was working in Turin, Italy during the World Cup in 1990. I got to see a World Cup game between Brazil and Sweden in person with comp tickets from my company. Brazil won 2-1. The Brazilian fans were fantastic, fully of energy and joy. They made the game a real event for me.

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    1. Iโ€™ll choose a South American over a euro any day. I donโ€™t consider the English euros. Premier league is the best league there is.

      Tex – Man U fan
      Yes I watched them win this morning prior to volleyball

      Brazil pioneered the 4-3-3
      I grew up playing that formation.

      Liked by 1 person

  125. By the way, it should be noted that Pitt has pretty much dominated the ACC airways this weekend. All four softball games and the three baseball games were televised on either ACCN or ACCN Extra. Add to that the volleyball game on ESPN3 and we are getting a lot of coverage. Of course it ties up my time but, oh well.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I absolutely hate the way Pitt has treated their track program. We have a pretty good coach who recruits very well with the garbage situation he has for facilities. We MUST HAVE a home field track at Pitt. Put it anywhere in greater Pittsburgh! Is their room by the football practice facility? Surely to (bleep), we can find a level spot and build a track. Bleacher seats would be fine. Except for the track surface itself, the other costs are minimal.

      Liked by 1 person

  127. Will there be a replay of the match?? I couldn’t watch it, other commitments.
    Where?? When??

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  129. Pitt softball completes a 4-game home sweep of North Carolina. UNC came into the series with an ACC record of 8-9, so they are not world beaters but they are not dregs either. Congrats to Lady Panther Softball!

    Liked by 4 people

  131. Penn State gets beat (yay!) And Louisville loses in 5 sets after being up 7-1. Pitt plays #6 Washington tomorrow at noon. Guess I have to DVR that match. Go Pitt- the Cinderella darlings of the tourney!!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Pitt is only Pennsylvania team still playing in the Elite Eight! Tex must be very happy with Texas and Pitt victories. Louisville had leads of 5-0, 7-1, and 10-4 in a 15 points to win set and lost the set and therefore the match 15-13. I thought for sure we would have an all ACC match tomorrow. Very disappointed in Louisville as it would have been a lot easier writing about them than Washington.

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  133. Today was a cool day. I almost forgot what it’s like to read a great article without the words “Narduzzi sucks” 15 times.

    Say what you will but with last years girls softball team doing so well and now this years fun watching the success of a few Olympic PITT sports I can definitely feel the changes of the athletic dept towards the goal of being competitive. Go PITT

    ike

    Liked by 8 people

  134. As you know Ike, Football and Basketball are all that matter sadly. If we can be competitive in the lesser sports why do we remain married to bums like Narduzzi and Capel. Have some balls like and go after winners.

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    1. Volleyball though is the only sport where it doesn’t matter to me if it’s women or men playing…beach or court volleyball. Both are equally entertaining. Looking forward to the Olympics this summer.

      Liked by 2 people

  135. Pitt versus Washington match is at noon tomorrow 4/19/2021 on possibly ESPNU from what I see now.

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      1. If Pitt wins, the regional final will be on ESPN on Thursday. #2 Kentucky is the best seed still alive in the other regional semi-final.

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  136. I fear many of us will have to rely on POVert posts to know what is going on due to the workday start time tomorrow.

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  137. I think if a team makes the regional finals, they have the athletes and in a game like volleyball its well-earned.
    And no matter what happens from here – or what some may say about them – this is a good team.

    Good for them!
    You know what’s even more exciting than the win?
    Its seeing most all of you get fired up about it.
    Sorry I missed it but was great to read the supportive comments.

    Liked by 7 people

  140. What is the competitive status of the ladies soccer team? We donโ€™t hear much about them. Is the program on the rise or is it slipping?

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    1. They are now a middle tier ACC team. Making good progress each year. They started at the bottom. Coach randy waldrum is recruiting his players for his system. Itโ€™s starting to payoff. Heโ€™s landed some decent talent. And doesnโ€™t need to go to Europe to find it.

      His women are tougher than coach jays men.

      Liked by 1 person

  141. Not to jump ahead but it could be Wisconsin vs Texas and Kentucky vs Pitt in the Final 4. Pitt would be the only unranked team and a nice underdog story.

    Could be looking at Texas and Pitt competing against each other in the championship.

    Sandy is staying over. She found a nice oak tree nearby. Sheโ€™ll be reporting from the game tomorrow.

    Longhorns are clearly better than those dairy cows in Creepy Valley.

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  142. Simply put, the team with the freshest legs will win. Pitts players better be getting deep massages by the training staff. How deep is Pitts bench. That will be critical tomorrow.

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  143. At least Washington had to play 5 sets too, so both teams should be equally tired. Here’s where all the conditioning and nutrition work pays off.

    Liked by 1 person

  146. going 3 sets or 5 sets doesn’t seem like much of a difference and while I don’t know, I can’t imagine volleyball is quite the sport where conditioning is a big separation factor

    not saying not a factor whatsoever, but way more technical skills and of course height and quickness than physical conditioning factors which separate players and teams

    for example, I could play equally well after a good warmup and at the start of a 6-pack of beer as at the 5 and 6th beer point,,,, then I could play just as well the next day as long as I didn’t stay out past 2 am or so at that age ๐Ÿ™‚

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  147. Volleyball is all about the legs. Quick twitch. Hopefully the women wonโ€™t have heavy legs. When I played two on two beach/grass, I was typically too drunk to notice the soreness. The more I drank, the better my serve. It was the definition of โ€˜playing looseโ€™

    I think Washington is the better matchup for pitt. Louisville would have been tough.

    Liked by 1 person

  149. Game is supposed to be on ESPN2 per Pitt website! Not showing up on our Dish schedule though?!

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  150. A battle of cats versus dogs. Do any schools have a squirrel as their mascot?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Gladys, the Fighting Squirrel of Mary Baldwin College in Virginia says: ” Nuts to your team!!”

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    1. So is Punxsutawney Phil! Groundhogs are also members of the squirrel family. Have to go now. You will have to carry the team until I get back!

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    2. Those rodents burrow and live in the dirty ground. We squirrels are far more sophisticated since we dwell in luxiorious trees and consume the finest nut cuisine.

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  153. Is a nittany lion technically also a member of the rodent family? Inquiring minds want to know.

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