NEWS » clip and just eight kills.

PITTSBURGH -- Sheldon Jeter practically did a spit take when Pittsburgh hired Kevin Stallings to replace Jamie Dixon last spring.I was shocked, as I imagine most people were, said the senior forward, who played under Stallings for one season at Vanderbilt before eventually making his way to the Panthers. I didnt see that coming.Shock, however, eventually gave way to acceptance and something even more promising: optimism. When Jeters teammates asked him for a read on Stallings while they pondered whether to leave or not, Jeter offered some salient advice.I told them coach is a genuine guy, Jeter said. Everything he says, he means.Ultimately, everybody stayed, giving Stallings a solid foundation to start with as he begins anew following 17 years with the Commodores.Theyve embraced the changes, Stallings said. Theyve embraced the newness of the culture. Theyve embraced me.The promise of a fresh start in a system that will be more free-flowing than the one Dixon used to unprecedented success during his dozen years at Pitt helps. Stallings, who jokingly admitted he couldnt cover his butt with both hands as a defender during his own playing career, wants the Panthers to feel empowered to go out and make plays instead of reflexively looking at the bench following every miscue.I dont want them to make a turnover and say `Oh, coach is going to take me out, Stallings said. Eventually that negatively impacts their playing psyche.Pitt returns four starters from a team that went 21-12 in Dixons final season, one that ended with a second-round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. External expectations are modest. Not so inside the Petersen Events Center. The day Stallings took over he and athletic director Scott Barnes both said the deciding factor was each sides firm belief the Panthers have everything in place -- from facilities and leadership to recruiting footprint -- to reach the Final Four.Getting back to the tournament would be a solid first step, one Pitt believes it can take even with Dixon at his alma mater (TCU) and the decidedly more emotive Stallings on the sideline.Were trying to build something this year, senior forward Jamel Artis said. People, writers, dont have us top in the nation right now. Were trying to prove them wrong.Some things to look for as Pitt prepares for its opener on Nov. 11 against Eastern Michigan:SENIOR MOMENTS: In Jeter, Artis, Michael Young and Chris Jones the Panthers have four seniors who have helped guide the rest of the roster through the transition from Dixon to Stallings. Stallings expects to repay that loyalty by relying heavily on the quartet, who averaged a combined 44 points a game last season.We will go as those guys go, Stallings said. If they lead us in a productive and positive way. Then everybody else will fall in line with that. If they are individualistic or self-driven then it becomes a problem.MAKING A POINT: Stallings has come up with an interesting solution in replacing four-year starter James Robinson at point guard: give Artis the ball. The 6-foot-7 Artis was effective at times when handling the ball in the high post under Dixon. Stallings wants Artis to bring the ball up too. Artis didnt exactly balk at the idea, figuring its the best way for the Panthers to win while also showing pro scouts what he can do.Watching Vanderbilt, their offense was pretty spaced out, Artis said. (Handling the ball) is part of the transition to the NBA.GIDDY UP: Stallings described his offense as structured freedom. The Panthers plan to take the concept and run with it. Contrary to popular opinion, Dixon did give his players more leeway offensively after the Panthers transitioned to the ACC. Yet they came with certain caveats and the threat of a quick hook when things went awry. While Stallings isnt going to indulge mistakes, but he will try to live with them as his players try to figure things out.You have to get to everybody going uptempo, Jeter said. We have to get everyone used to playing at his speed and really thinking on the fly instead of having a play set in motion.JUSTICE FOR ALL?: The Panthers welcome just three new faces this year: transfer guard Crisshawn Clark and freshmen Corey Manigault and Justice Kithcart. The fleet 6-1, 185-pound Kithcart should get plenty of opportunities to show Stallings hes capable of running the show. The key will be finding a way to play fast, but not loose. Cheap Nike Free Nz . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. 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Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Kentucky volleyball team earned an impressive 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-9) sweep of the Louisville Cardinals on Thursday in the KFC Yum! Center behind a dominating effort in all phases of the match. UK grabbed early leads in every set and rolled to a convincing victory - its fourth in a row over Louisville.With the win, Kentucky improves to 6-4 on the young season. Louisville drops to 4-5 on the year. The Wildcats waste little time returning to action. UK will welcome Lipscomb to Memorial Coliseum on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. first serve to mark the final non-conference matchup of the season.Im very, very pleased with our players and their intensity throughout the entire match, UK coach Craig Skinner said. The way they went about their business and their concentration - weve been working really hard on being consistent and I thought they did a great job of that offensively and defensively.Kentucky received exceptional performances from every player on the court on Thursday. Freshman Leah Edmond led a balanced offensive attack that saw four players register eight or more kills on the night. The freshman posted a team-high 13. It was her ninth match topping double figures and besting the team. Junior Kaz Brown was nearly unstoppable with nine kills on a blazing .533 attacking percentage. She also added four blocks.Sophomore setter Olivia Dailey was the engineer to UKs crippling attack that boasted 46 total kills on a .358 attacking percentage. Dailey dished out 37 assists and added seven digs and a pair of blocks.Sophomore Brooke Morgan chipped in on the attack with nine kills, while junior Darian Mack added eight. Junior Emily Franklin led the defensive effort up front with a team-high five blocks while also chipping in with the same number of kills.Juniior libero Ashley Dusek notched a match-high 15 digs, with Louisville native McKenzie Watson added nine digs.dddddddddddd Senior Anni Thomasson contributed a pair of kills, four digs and an ace.SET RECAPSSet 1 After trading kills to begin the match, UK utilized a 5-0 run and benefiting from five-straight kills to claim a 5-1 lead. UK would never look back. The offensive attack was clicking on all cylinders with five players recording a kill in the opening 10 points. Edmond led the way with six kills and UK notched 15 for the set. UKs defense frustrated the Cards into a .033 hitting clip and just eight kills. Dusek led the way defensively with five digs.Set 2 The Wildcats raced out to a 5-0 lead and were never really threatened, although the Cardinals would get within three several times including as late as 20-17. Kills from Franklin and Edmond helped UK score the next three points to pull away to a comfortable 23-17 lead. Edmonds 10th kill of the night delivered the 25-18 second set win. UK posted 18 kills in the frame on a .342 hitting clip with Brown and Mack leading the way with a team-high four kills apiece in the stanza. Dailey dished out 15 assists and Dusek picked up eight digs. Louisville managed 11 kills on a .146 attacking percentage.Set 3 It was all Kentucky in the third set as the Wildcats rolled to a 25-9 win. The Wildcats took a 4-3 lead off of a Morgan kill and never looked back. UK scored the stanzas final eight points and the set was highlighted by four UK aces. Kentucky scorched the Cardinals for 13 kills on a blistering .524 hitting percentage. Louisville was flustered into a -.040 hitting percentage behind four UK blocks. ' ' '