Pitt Pushes Past Syracuse, 3-1

Friday, November 18

Syracuse, N.Y.

7:00 PM

Pitt

21-8, 12-5ACC

Syracuse

7-20, 6-11ACC

Pitt

Syracuse

11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team moved to 21-8 on the season and 12-5 in ACC play after defeating Syracuse 3-1 Friday evening at the Women's Building in Syracuse N.Y.

The Panthers retired the Orange [7-20, 6-11 ACC] in the opening two sets 25-23, 25-19, before falling in the third set 25-22. Pitt earned the win with a 25-22 fourth set win.

"This was a super difficult match," said head coach Dan Fisher. "We have always had trouble playing at Syracuse. It's a physical team that is way better now than at the start of the year. They have done a nice job of improving and I thought their libero had a really nice game."

A forceful attack, combined with a potent defense led the Panthers to victory as Pitt tallied 62 kills and 74 digs against Syracuse.

"I'm super pleased that we stuck together as a team," said Fisher. "At this point in the season we are talking a lot about how it doesn't matter who gets the point as long as the team gets the point. It seemed like we were doing that tonight and that we were really pulling for each other."

The Panthers saw three players earn double-doubles, including freshman Nika Markovic, redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams and junior Mariah Bell. Markovic and Williams both tallied a team-leading 15 kills while the Baslovce, Slovenia, native also led Pitt with 17 digs. Williams put up 15 digs. Bell rounded out the players in double-figures, posting 12 kills and 16 digs.

The Panthers offense was also aided by Pitt's group of middles during crucial moments of the game. Redshirt senior Jenna Potts finished the match with a .375 hitting percentage and eight kills while junior Kelsey O'Neill put up five kills and freshman Layne Van Buskirk with six in 10 attempts.

"All three of our middles did a really nice job," said Fisher. "When we got in some trouble in the third and fourth set, and our passing wasn't as good, we had to rely on our pin hitters. They came up big when we needed them."

Setting up the Panthers attack was sophomore setter Kamalani Akeo, who tallied 51 assists.

At the net, Pitt was led by Potts and Markovic who each registered three blocks apiece.

Set One: Pitt 25, Syracuse 23
Pitt struggled out of gate against Syracuse, falling behind 7-2, as the Orange scored four straight including back-to-back aces before the Panthers called their first timeout.

Out of the break Pitt rattled off four straight points, two kills by Markovic and one by O'Neill, to pull within one of Syracuse 7-6. The Panthers battled from behind to take a 12-10 lead but it didn't last long as the two teams became knotted at 15-15.

Pitt and the Orange were tied seven more times prior to Pitt rattling off a final kill by O'Neill and picking up the first set win, 25-23.

Set Two: Pitt 25, Syracuse 19
The Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the match after defeating the Orange 25-19 in the second set.

After battling in the opening points, Pitt worked its way out to a 12-8 lead but following a timeout call by Syracuse, the Orange returned to post five consecutive points to move ahead 13-12. Pitt burned its first timeout at this point.

The two teams remained in back-and-forth action into the late points with Syracuse taking a 19-18 lead. Trailing by one, the Panthers secured its victory with seven straight points, defeating the Orange 25-19.

Set Three: Pitt 22, Syracuse 25
Pitt stumbled in the fourth set, falling to Syracuse 25-22.

The Panthers trailed 7-4 at the start of the frame before working their way to trail by a point 15-14. This was the closest Pitt would come to taking the lead before the Orange extended its lead to 19-15.

Out of a Pitt timeout, the Panthers outscored Syracuse 5-3 to pull within two, 22-20, but it wasn't enough sending Pitt and the to a fourth set.

Set Four: Pitt 25, Syracuse 22
The Panthers secured the win against the Orange with a 25-22 victory in the fourth, capped off by a final ace by senior Maria Genitsaridi.

At the start of the set, Pitt was on a roll, getting out to a 10-6 lead with three straight points. However, the Orange put up four points to the Panthers' one to cut Pitt's lead to one and force the Panthers to burn a timeout.

Pitt maintained its lead for a short period following the break but Syracuse made a comeback and tied the set 15-15 and eventually took a late 21-19 lead.

The Panthers remained calm and put together back-to-back points to tie the set at 21 all before regaining a 23-21 lead. Pitt would end the match on consecutive points, including the final ace by Genitsaridi.

Up Next
Pitt will take on Boston College Sunday, Nov. 20 at Noon.

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