Panthers Swept by Duke at Home

Sunday, November 13

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1:00 PM

Pitt

20-8, 11-5ACC

Duke

20-6, 14-2ACC

Duke

Pitt

11/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team was swept by Duke Sunday afternoon at the Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers [20-8, 11-5 ACC] fell to the Blue Devils [20-6, 14-2 ACC] 25-22, 28-26 and 25-23.

Despite the loss, Pitt battled, recording more kills (52/45), assists (51/43) and digs (53/47) than Duke. However, the Blue Devils hit slightly more consistent than the Panthers (.256/.227) and recorded less hitting errors.

Junior Mariah Bell led Pitt offensively this afternoon, hitting .359 after recording 18 kills in 39 attempts with just four errors. Bell also had five digs.

Other top attackers included freshmen Nika Markovic and Layne Van Buskirk. Markovic recorded 11 kills in addition to seven digs, while Van Buskirk finished with 10 kills and a .368 clip.

Sophomore setter Kamalani Akeo concluded the match with 43 assists, while redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams and redshirt sophomore Angela Seman led the home team with 14 digs apiece. Williams, along with redshirt senior Jenna Potts each tallied four blocks to lead Pitt.

Set One: Pitt 22, Duke 25
The Panthers fell in the opening set of the match 25-22, as the Blue Devils came from behind for the win.

Tied 8-8, Pitt went on a 6-2 run to take a 14-10 lead and force Duke to take its first timeout. The Panthers continued to dominate, allowing the Blue Devils to score just two more points before they called their second timeout. Pitt led by six, 18-12.

Following Duke's second timeout, the Blue Devils went on a 5-1 run to pull within two, 19-17. The Panthers called its first timeout to slow the opposing team but Duke fought back and knotted the score 21-21.

The Blue Devils outscored Pitt 4-1 in the final points to win the first set.

Set Two: Pitt 26, Duke 28
In a heartbreaking second set, the Panthers fell to Duke 28-26 after coming from behind to tie the score late in the set.

At the start of the frame, the two teams battled back and forth but the Blue Devils earned the first substantial lead of the game. Duke found itself ahead 11-7 after scoring three straight, prompting a timeout call from Pitt.

With the Blue Devils leading 19-16, a kill and an ace by Bell put the Panthers within one of Duke. However, Pitt was forced to call another timeout as the Blue Devils went ahead 22-19.

Out of the break, the Panthers' Van Buskirk and Markovic tallied back-to-back kills to cut Duke's lead to one, 22-21. The Blue Devils earned set point 24-23 but Pitt tied the set on a kill by Bell.

The Panthers battled through the final points of the set, tying the score twice after the initial, but were unable to take a lead as Duke went on to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set Three: Pitt 23, Duke 25
The Blue Devils solidified their win with a 25-23 victory in the third set.

Pitt got out to a 5-2 lead early on in the third set but it didn't last long as Duke came back to take a 7-6 lead. After nine tie scores and back and forth play, the Panthers pushed ahead by three points on back-to-back kills by Bell and an attack error by Duke.

With Pitt leading 18-15, the Blue Devils called their first timeout, regrouped and returned to the court to go on a 3-0 run to tie the score 18-18. The Panthers got back on top with two consecutive points but Duke took a late lead as it outscored Pitt 4-1 to move ahead 22-21.

The Panthers took a timeout of their own but Duke earned set point 24-22. A Markovic kill brought Pitt back within a point but a service error by the Panthers ended the match.

Up Next
Pitt will take on Syracuse and Boston College on the road next weekend. The Panthers will face the Orange Friday, Nov. 18 prior to taking on the Eagles Sunday, Nov. 20.

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