It took all five sets, but the No. 3 Pitt volleyball team defeated Syracuse, 3-2 on Friday to continue the Panthers’ winning streak. Pitt has now won six straight matches and five consecutive in league play.
The visiting Panthers took the first two sets fairly easily, winning 25-17 and 25-18, but forced to the brink, the Orange buckled down, taking the third set 25-16 and the fourth 25-22.
Pitt won five straight points in the fifth set, four of them with Valeria Vazquez-Gomez serving, to take a 13-6 lead. A Serena Gray Kill made it 14-8 and Pitt won the match on its third match point after an Orange attack error.
Leketo Member-Meneh had 23 kills to lead the Panthers, while Kayla Lund had 14 kills and 12 digs for a double-double. Chinaza Nee addd 12 kills. Rachel Fairbanks paced the Panthers with 27 assists and Alexis Akeo handed out 21. Fairbanks also had nine digs. Ashley Browske led the Pitt defense with 10.
Pitt will stay on the road next weekend, visiting No. 14 Georgia Tech on Friday and Clemson on Sunday. The Panthers will finish their regular season with a home match against No. 1 Louisville on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Pitt is 13-2 in ACC play and in second place in the conference, trailing only 13-0 Louisville, which swept Georgia Tech on Friday.
