Pitt
13-4
Syracuse
12-4
Pitt Edges Syracuse on the Road, 3-1
10/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score | Season Stats
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team moved to 13-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference play after defeating ACC foe Syracuse, 3-1, Friday evening at the Women's Building in Syracuse, N.Y.
The Panthers dropped the first set to the Orange, 16-25, but bounced back to win the next three 25-20, 25-20 and 25-21.
Leading the Panthers were graduate student, Kadi Kullerkann and senior Amanda Orchard. Kullerkann registered a season-high 22 kills, which gives the Estonia native 15 matches with double-digit kills, including seven in a row. Orchard concluded the night with 10 kills and a .450 hitting percentage, which makes for her 12th game of hitting above .400.
Senior Jenna Jacobson registered her fourth double-double of the season, recording a team-leading 32 assists and 18 digs.
Pitt notched eight aces against Syracuse, three of which were served up by freshman Kamalani Akeo. The Panthers tallied 69 digs to the Orange 49.
Pitt and Syracuse battled in the opening points of the first set, but a six point run by the Orange led to the Panthers trailing, 9-5. Following a timeout by Pitt, the squad worked its way back within three of Syracuse, who then called a timeout to slow the Panthers. The Orange returned to the court to outscore Pitt, 7-2, to work their way up to a 22-13 lead. The Panthers would score just three more points, as Syracuse would go on to win, 25-16.
Pitt bounced back in the second set to win 25-20, tying the match at 1-1 overall. Points were exchanged back-and-forth early on, but the Panthers notched three straight to jump out to a 12-9 lead. The Orange called its first timeout of the set just points later as Pitt extended its lead to 15-11. Syracuse worked its way back within one of the Panthers, calling for a timeout by head coach Dan Fisher. Out of the break, Pitt scored three consecutive points, including kill by Orchard and Kullerkann. Kullerkann hit .778 in the set, recording seven kills on nine attempts. Syracuse called its second timeout, but Pitt went on to score its final two points, capping off the set with a kill by sophomore Mariah Bell.
The Panthers gained a 2-1 lead in the match after taking down the Orange, 25-20, in set three. Pitt tallied 18 kills, almost half of which were put away by Kullerkann (8). The Panthers and Syracuse remained close in the beginning of the third set, but it didn't last long as Pitt outscored the Orange, 7-1, to take a 15-8 lead. Syracuse fought back within four later in the set, but that was the closest it would come before Pitt sealed the deal.
Both teams put up a fight in the final set, but the Panthers came out on top, 25-21. The Panthers led in the early points of the fourth set but the Orange battled their way back to take a 10-9 lead. However, it didn't last long as both squads exchanged points until the set was tied at 16 all. The Panthers scored the next point to take a one point lead, but Syracuse answered with three straight to force a Pitt timeout. Following the break, the Panthers went on to outscore the Orange, 8-2, to finish off the match.
Up Next
Pitt will head to Boston this Sunday, Oct. 11 to take on the Eagles at 2:30 p.m. This match is set to be broadcast live on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh and ESPN3.
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