photo by Ty Smith
Nikki Inquartano, a sophomore right side middle hitter, spikes the ball over the net at the game against Brescia (Ky.) Sunday, Oct. 19 in the Student Center Gym. The Pioneers won 3-0.
This past week, the Point Park volleyball team reached the 20 win total for the sixth consecutive season and seventh time in the past eight seasons.
Head coach Mike Bruno was pleased with the accomplishment. However, he knows there is still work to be done.
“It’s a standard that we set and we look to exceed it every year,” Bruno said. “We had a slow start, but at the end of it, the [conference record] is what we’re concentrating on. It’s more about the conference tournament and regular season. We’re only as good as our next match.”
The Pioneers received votes towards the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) top 25 poll. This was the second week in which they have received votes.
Point Park then defeated NCAA Division III opponent Bethany College 3-1 to earn the 20th victory of the year.
According to libero Tabea Dillard, the Pioneers had concentration lapses that have affected them throughout the season, despite the win.
“The consistency is not always there and we just have to remind ourselves to focus,” Dalliard said. “We have to stay in every game and remind each other that even if we win a set, the next set is 0-0, it starts over.”
Point Park dropped the second set of the match, and were trailing in the middle stages of the third game before coming back to take a 2-1 lead. Dalliard attributed this to the team finding a sense of urgency to refocus.
The Pioneers would take the match one set later and Dalliard was glad to see it end.
“It was a relief actually because it was still hard since we weren’t completely concentrated, but it was a relief to win even though we weren’t playing our best,” Dalliard said.
Saturday marked the seventh annual Volley For Vision and a Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) match against Brescia.
Volley For Vision is an event honoring Bruno’s daughter, Cassie, who is legally blind. Fans who attended the game were able to donate money in a variety of ways to show support. One of these ways was bidding on raffle items, such as tickets for the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Houston Texans game, while other ways included a monetary pledge for each dig the Pioneers had in the match and a flat donation. The proceeds benefitted the Team Cassie Fund, which according to volleyforvision.org, is a non-profit charitable fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation that will assist the local special needs community.
Senior defensive specialist Kelsey Veydt was responsible for planning the event.
“It was great to be able to raise awareness for Team Cassie and it was awesome to have Katelyn MacIntyre here to perform the National Anthem because it really opens our eyes to how privileged we are,” Veydt said. “Volley For Vision was a success and it was great to have everyone here. It’s a great thing to be a part of every year and it’s an honor to be in charge of it.”
Against Brescia, Point Park emerged with a 3-0 victory, but Veydt was not pleased with the match.
“It’s a win, but it’s not a win that we’re proud of,” Veydt said. “We have to learn from it and strive to be better.”
Point Park has five matches this week starting with the home meeting with the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. The Pioneers will then participate in the Indiana Tech Tournament Friday and Saturday taking on St. Francis University [Indiana], Indiana Tech, St. Catherine College and Kentucky Christian University.
