Pitt
22-9, 12-7ACC
Virginia Tech
18-13, 9-10ACC
Pitt Falls to Virginia Tech in Five
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker to Virginia Tech, Friday evening at the Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers [22-9, 12-7 ACC] started off the match with a 25-21 win, but the Hokies [18-13, 9-10 ACC] bounced back to tie following a win in the second set, 25-23. Pitt dominated the third set en route to a 25-12 win, but couldn't hand on as Virginia Tech won the final two sets, 25-12 and 16-14, respectively.
Offensively senior Amanda Orchard led the Panthers with a .391 hitting percentage, registering 11 kills. Graduate transfer Kadi Kullerkann [17] and sophomore Mariah Bell [14] also added double-digit kills for the Panthers. Kullerkann has now reached double-figure kills in 21 consecutive matches. The streak has increased her total to 29, which marks all but two matches this season.
Defensively, redshirt junior Jenna Potts led the way at the net with 11 blocks, while Bell added a career-high six. Junior Maria Genitsaridi dug up a team-leading 16 balls for the Panthers
Senior Jenna Jacobson registered her 10th double-double of the season, recording a team-high 32 assists and 12 digs.
Pitt and Virginia Tech opened the first set in a tight race, exchanging back and forth points until the two teams were tied at 17-17. At that point, the Panthers earned the first large lead of the set after posting four consecutive points, including kills from Kullerkann and Potts. This gave Pitt a 21-17 lead, which the Panthers held on to through the late points to take set one 25-21.
The Hokies tied the match after defeating Pitt, 25-23 in set two. The two teams opened with another close exchange, until the Panthers were able to take a five point lead, 13-8. Pitt put away three kills, a block, and gained a point off a Virginia Tech hitting error. However, the Hokies outscored the Panthers 11-4 to gain a late lead, 19-17. Pitt regained the lead 20-19, but Virginia Tech scored six points to the Panther's three to take the set.
The Panthers found their groove in the third set, picking up a 25-18 victory to gain 2-1 overall advantage. Six straight points early in the set put Pitt up 13-7, forcing the Hokies to waste its first timeout. A second timeout was called by VT just points later, but it did nothing to slow the Panthers who continued to dominate through the remainder of the set.
Pitt struggled against the Hokies in the fourth set, falling 25-12. With the game tied 9-9, Virginia Tech outscored the Panthers 16-3 to force a fifth set.
In the final set, the Panthers fell to the Hokies in extra points, 16-14. Orchard put Pitt on the board after knocking down back-to-back kills, but Virginia Tech answered to tie the game at 2-2. The Panthers led 8-7 at the midpoint of the set, fueled by senior Casey Durham who posted two huge kills off the bench. Following the quick break, the two teams went back-and-forth with lead changes. Pitt posted two match points, but the Hokies roped off four consecutive points to end the match.
Up Next
Pitt will welcome Virginia on Friday, Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. for the Panthers' final regular season match this year. This will also serve as Senior Night for Orchard, Jacobson, Durham and Kullerkann.
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