Pitt
24-6, 12-5
Louisville
15-15, 7-11
Pitt Drops Louisville, 3-2, in a Five Set Thriller
11/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score | Season Stats | Conference Stats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In a five set thriller, the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (24-6, 12-5 ACC) outplayed the University of Louisville volleyball team (15-15, 7-11 ACC) to defeat the Cardinals by a score of 3-2 at Cardinal Arena in Louisville, Ky.
The Panthers dropped the first set 26-28 but bounced back to pick up the second 25-20 and third 25-16 to lead 2-1. Pitt had a tough fourth set which they lost 25-23 but in the end prevailed with a fifth set 15-12 win.
In her homecoming, senior Mechael Guess led the way for the Panthers offensively with a season high 18 kills (.333) while sophomore Maria Genitsaridi set a new career high in kills with 20. Help also came off the bench tonight for Pitt as Casey Durham recorded nine kills on 17 attempts (.471).
The Panthers successful night of hitting was aided by Pitt's 66 assists, 54 of those coming from Lindsey Zitzke and Jenna Jacobson. The Panthers also notched their third straight game of double-digit serving aces. Defensively Pitt put up 77 digs, 17 from Delaney Clesen, and 13 blocks.
Pitt and Louisville both got off to a slow start i n the beginning of the first set as Louisville led by only a one point, 8-7 margin early on. The Panthers eighth point gave them a spark as the team went on a 9-1 run to give Pitt a 17-9 lead over the Cards. Trailing by eight, Louisville called a timeout to try and slow the Panthers. Three points after the timeout, Pitt called a timeout as the Cardinals were then within five of the Panthers. Louisville continued to fight and was able to tie the game at 21 before taking a 24-23 lead over the Panthers. The two teams were tied three more times, fighting to the end, but Pitt was unable to hold off the Cards who picked up two final points to take the first set.
Continuing its momentum from the first set, Louisville got off to an early 3-1 lead in the second but the Panthers quickly bounced back to tie the game at six all. Kills from Mariah Bell and Guess, along with a Cards attack error quickly gave Pitt a 9-6 lead. However, three consecutive points by Louisville would re-tie the game at nine apiece. The close match didn't last long as Pitt outscored the Cardinals, 9-2, to take an 18-11 lead. Behind Guess' six kills in the set, the Panthers would hold on to that lead to tie the match at 1-1.
Serving was a key to Pitts third set win as the team put up four early in the set to get out to a 7-2 lead. The Panthers extended that lead to 14-6 after kills from Guess and Orchard. Pitt continued to add points and extended that lead to 20-11 after a service error by the Cards and another Guess kill. Late in the set, Louisville outscored Pitt 4-1 to cut the Panthers lead to six. A timeout was taken by Pitt to stop the run short, which worked in their favor as Bell finished the set with a kill.
Pitt had another tough start in the fourth, trailing the Cardinals early by a score of 8-4 which forced to an early Panthers timeout. Louisville's play did not let up and the Cards continued to dominate and extend their lead to 15-9. Pitt made its way back in the game as the Panthers were able to pull back within four points and bring the score to 23-19. Louisville called a timeout but Pitt fought to the end as four consecutive kills by Durham following the break brought the score to 24-23, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals won the fourth set and tie the match at 2-2.
To begin the final set, the two teams started off with back and forth points but Louisville took at early 4-2 lead. Pitt didn't worry as the Panthers went on to score five consecutive points to take a 7-4 lead over the Cardinals. Pitt forced Louisville to take two timeouts in the set, as the Panthers extended their lead to 11-7. The Cards attempted to make a come-back in the final points of the game, returning to within two of Pittsburgh but a final kill by Genitsaridi ended the match.
The Panthers will return to action on Friday, Nov. 28 when they play their final match of the 2014 regular season against Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion. The match is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Live stats will be available for the match through PittsburghPanthers.com or fans can follow the in-game updates on Pitt's twitter account, @PittVolleyball.
