No. 7 Pitt continued their winning streak with a sweep on the road over Wake Forest on Friday night.
The Panthers’ (21-2 overall, 11-0 ACC) win over the Demon Deacons (12-10 overall, 4-7 ACC) is the 14th straight win overall this season. This makes it the third in the last five seasons and the first since 2019 with that long of a winning streak for the Panthers. It is also the eighth straight win over the Demon Deacons, all of those victories coming as sweep, as well.
Pitt started the first set out with a 5-1 lead, but Wake Forest responded to tie it up at 14. Pitt then broke out on a 7-1 scoring run to take a 21-15 lead, but scored five straight points to cut the deficit to one point. The Panthers finished the set off, as they scored four of the next five points to win, 25-21.
The Panthers once again started off with a 5-1 lead in the second set and again, the Demon Deacons responded, tying it up at 8-8.
Instead of faltering, the Panthers broke away from the Demon Deacons with a 10-2 run, giving themselves an 18-10 advantage. Â The Panthers won the second set on the back of a 7-3 run, 25-13.
Both teams battled it out in the third set, with Wake Forest holding a 16-15 lead midway. Pitt then scored five of the next six points to take a 20-17 lead. Wake Forest kept it within two at 21-19, but Pitt scored the final four points to take the set and the victory.
Graduate right side hitter Courtney Buzzerio once again led Pitt in kills, this time with 10. This is the 15th straight game she’s led her team in kills and finished in double digit kills. She also led with three service aces and finished tied second with three total blocks.
Redshirt junior outside hitter Valeria Vasquez Gomez finished second with eight kills and played an efficient game, with a .571 hitting percentage. She also made six digs, third best on the team.
Sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks led the Panthers with 23 assists and nine digs. She also provided six kills and two total blocks in another all-around match.
Graduate middle blocker Serena Gray finished first with four total blocks and third with seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage.
First-year middle blocker Rachel Jepsen played a solid game off the bench. She finished with five kills on a .714 hitting percentage and made three total blocks, tied for second with Buzzerio.
Pitt travels to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 30, in hopes of staying at the top of the ACC.
