No. 7 Pitt faced a tough challenge in Boston College on Sunday on the road, but managed to take the match in four sets.
The Panthers’ (24-2 overall, 14-0 ACC) victory over the Eagles (17-11 overall, 5-9 ACC) is their 17th in a row this season and their 18th consecutive over the Eagles, dating back to 2001. It is also the 15th straight road win for the Panthers, tying a program record, which they set from the 2018-19 seasons. The 15 consecutive road wins also mark the longest streak in Division I.
Pitt initially took a big lead in the first set, 9-2, and looked to be on their way to an easy set win. Boston College responded with a 12-4 run to take a 14-13 lead.
After going down 16-15, Pitt scored six straight points to earn a 21-16 lead. They continued to lead at 23-20, but Boston College came back again and took a 24-23 lead.
The Eagles then made two big mistakes off a service error and then an attack error to give the Panthers the lead. Redshirt junior outside hitter Valeria Vasquez Gomez made a kill on the next serve and the Panthers won the first set, 26-24.
Pitt absolutely dominated the second set, starting out on a 10-2 run. They built their lead to 21-10 and won the second set, 25-11. Pitt out-hit Boston College, .433 to .000 in the second set.
Both teams kept it close in the third set and found themselves tied up at 10-10. The Eagles started to build leads of 14-11, 17-13 and 19-15. The Panthers tried to catch up, but the Eagles played a great set and won it 25-18.
Pitt returned back to controlling the match in the fourth set, as they took leads of 7-1 and 14-7. Pitt would hold on the rest of the way as they took the set, 25-15, and the match as well.
Graduate right setter Courtney Buzzerio led the Panthers with 13 kills and tied for first with sophomore outside hitter Julianna Dalton with two service aces.
Vasquez Gomez and sophomore outside hitter Julianna Dalton finished second for Pitt with 12 kills. Vasquez Gomez tied for first with senior middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo with a team-high .417 hitting percentage. She also tied graduate middle blocker Serena Gray with six digs, fourth best on the team. Nwokolo and Gray both finished tied second with four total blocks each.
Dalton ended up with eight digs, third best for Pitt. She also led the team with five total blocks and had a .320 hitting percentage, her second straight game over .300.
Sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks posted her 12th double-double of the season with a team-high 27 assists and 10 digs, second best. She also finished third-best with three total blocks.
Senior libero/defensive specialist Ashley Browske led the Panthers with 13 digs, her 16th performance this season with double-digit digs. Graduate outside hitter Cam Ennis also provided 12 assists off the bench.
Pitt returns home next weekend to play Syracuse on Friday Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.
