University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Friday, October 7
Durham, N.C.
6:30 PM
Pitt
13-4, 4-1ACC
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Duke
10-5, 4-1ACC
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F
Pitt
18
25
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20
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Duke
25
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Pitt Suffers First Conference Loss at Duke
10/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2016
DURHAM, N.C. - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team suffered its first ACC loss of the season to Duke 3-1 Friday evening at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The Panthers [13-4, 4-1 ACC] fell to the Blue Devils [10-5, 4-1 ACC] in the opening set 25-18, but bounced back to win set two 25-20 and tie the match at one set apiece. Pitt fell in the final two sets 25-17 and 25-20, respectively.
"We didn't accomplish anything we set out to do in the match," said head coach Dan Fisher. "Duke posted more digs and blocks than us, and were better in long rallies. We are going to need to have a lot better defensive effort to beat a much-improved Wake Forest team Sunday."
The Panthers had a tough time figuring out Duke's defense, which posted 32 blocks and 58 digs.
Pitt had three players earn double-doubles in the match, including redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams, sophomore Kamalani Akeo and junior Mariah Bell.
Williams posted a team-leading 19 kills, while also putting up 10 digs. Akeo finished the match with 41 assists and 12 digs, while Bell put away 14 kills and also had 10 digs.
Redshirt sophomore Angela Seman led Pitt with 13 digs, while redshirt senior Jenna Potts concluded the match with a team-leading six blocks. Potts hit 7-for-14 with just one error and finished the match with a .429 hitting percentage.
Set One: Pitt 18, Duke 25
Pitt struggled offensively in the opening points of the set as the Panthers had trouble figuring out Duke's defense. The Blue Devils posted back to back block assists to take a 7-3 lead and force Pitt to call its first timeout of the set.
Following the break, the Panthers settled in and worked their way back to tie the score twice but were unable to secure a lead. The Blue Devils would pull ahead by five, 18-13, which brought along Pitt's second break in action.
Duke controlled the remainder of the set and defeated the Panthers 25-18 to lead 1-0 in the match.
Set Two: Pitt 25, Duke 20
In set two, Pitt found its momentum early on and took an 11-8 lead. However five straight points by the Blue Devils would put them ahead for the first time in the set 13-11.
The two teams exchanged back and forth points until the Panthers would find a two point lead, 18-16, forcing Duke to call its first of two timeouts in the set.
Pitt outscored the Blue Devils 7-4 in the final points to win the second set and tie the match at a set apiece.
Set Three: Pitt 17, Duke 25
In a back and forth set, Pitt opened with a hefty 9-5 lead but it diminished quickly as four consecutive points by Duke would tie the set 9-9.
The Blue Devils outscored the Panthers 7-4 to take a three point lead, 16-13, prompting a Pitt timeout.
The Panthers would pull back within one, 17-16, but Duke would end the set on an 8-1 run and win 25-17. Pitt trailed the Blue Devils 2-1 entering the fourth set.
Set Four: Pitt 20, Duke 25
The Panthers and Duke battled it out in the beginning volleys of set four but the Blue Devils found their rhythm and led Pitt 15-11 midway through.
The Panthers tried slowing Duke with a timeout but the Blue Devils answered with four consecutive points and led 18-13 to force Pitt to take another break.
The Panthers comeback attempt fell short after pulling within two points of the Blue Devils as Duke went on to win the fourth set 25-20 and take the match 3-1.
Up Next
Pitt continues ACC play in North Carolina as they make the short trip to Wake Forest for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Demon Deacons Sunday Oct. 8.
DURHAM, N.C. - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team suffered its first ACC loss of the season to Duke 3-1 Friday evening at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The Panthers [13-4, 4-1 ACC] fell to the Blue Devils [10-5, 4-1 ACC] in the opening set 25-18, but bounced back to win set two 25-20 and tie the match at one set apiece. Pitt fell in the final two sets 25-17 and 25-20, respectively.
"We didn't accomplish anything we set out to do in the match," said head coach Dan Fisher. "Duke posted more digs and blocks than us, and were better in long rallies. We are going to need to have a lot better defensive effort to beat a much-improved Wake Forest team Sunday."
The Panthers had a tough time figuring out Duke's defense, which posted 32 blocks and 58 digs.
Pitt had three players earn double-doubles in the match, including redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams, sophomore Kamalani Akeo and junior Mariah Bell.
Williams posted a team-leading 19 kills, while also putting up 10 digs. Akeo finished the match with 41 assists and 12 digs, while Bell put away 14 kills and also had 10 digs.
Redshirt sophomore Angela Seman led Pitt with 13 digs, while redshirt senior Jenna Potts concluded the match with a team-leading six blocks. Potts hit 7-for-14 with just one error and finished the match with a .429 hitting percentage.
Set One: Pitt 18, Duke 25
Pitt struggled offensively in the opening points of the set as the Panthers had trouble figuring out Duke's defense. The Blue Devils posted back to back block assists to take a 7-3 lead and force Pitt to call its first timeout of the set.
Following the break, the Panthers settled in and worked their way back to tie the score twice but were unable to secure a lead. The Blue Devils would pull ahead by five, 18-13, which brought along Pitt's second break in action.
Duke controlled the remainder of the set and defeated the Panthers 25-18 to lead 1-0 in the match.
Set Two: Pitt 25, Duke 20
In set two, Pitt found its momentum early on and took an 11-8 lead. However five straight points by the Blue Devils would put them ahead for the first time in the set 13-11.
The two teams exchanged back and forth points until the Panthers would find a two point lead, 18-16, forcing Duke to call its first of two timeouts in the set.
Pitt outscored the Blue Devils 7-4 in the final points to win the second set and tie the match at a set apiece.
Set Three: Pitt 17, Duke 25
In a back and forth set, Pitt opened with a hefty 9-5 lead but it diminished quickly as four consecutive points by Duke would tie the set 9-9.
The Blue Devils outscored the Panthers 7-4 to take a three point lead, 16-13, prompting a Pitt timeout.
The Panthers would pull back within one, 17-16, but Duke would end the set on an 8-1 run and win 25-17. Pitt trailed the Blue Devils 2-1 entering the fourth set.
Set Four: Pitt 20, Duke 25
The Panthers and Duke battled it out in the beginning volleys of set four but the Blue Devils found their rhythm and led Pitt 15-11 midway through.
The Panthers tried slowing Duke with a timeout but the Blue Devils answered with four consecutive points and led 18-13 to force Pitt to take another break.
The Panthers comeback attempt fell short after pulling within two points of the Blue Devils as Duke went on to win the fourth set 25-20 and take the match 3-1.
Up Next
Pitt continues ACC play in North Carolina as they make the short trip to Wake Forest for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Demon Deacons Sunday Oct. 8.
Team Stats
UP
DU
Kills
51
50
Errors
23
18
Attempts
139
129
Hitting %
.201
.248
Points
65.0
74.5
Assists
48
45
Aces
4
8
Blocks
10.0
16.5
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
S/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
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