University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
15-4, 5-2ACC
Georgia Tech
12-7, 3-4ACC
Pitt Wins Five-Set Thriller Against Georgia Tech
10/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team defeated Georgia Tech, 3-2, in a thrilling five-set match Friday evening at the Fitzgerald Field House, improving to 15-4 overall on the season and 5-2 in ACC play.
Pitt rallied back after being down, 1-2, to the Yellow Jackets (12-7, 3-4 ACC) to force the Panthers first five-set match of the season. After dropping the first set 17-25, the Panthers won the second 25-19. Out of the intermission, Pitt fell 25-20 but was able to win two straight, 25-21 and 15-13, to win the match.
The Panthers had three players earn double-digit kills, including junior Maria Genitsaridi (15), sophomore Mariah Bell (14) and graduate student Kadi Kullerkann (13). Kullerkann posted her 17th match of the season with double-digit kills and her ninth consecutive, while Genitsaridi and Bell, along with senior Jenna Jacobson all posted double-doubles. Jacobson also added three service aces for Pitt.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Angela Seman led the way in digs with 20, while senior Amanda Orchard posted five blocks.
The Panthers got off to a tough start in the first set, falling to Georgia Tech 25-17. After trailing Georgia Tech 10-5, Pitt picked up four straight points to come within one of the Yellow Jackets. Two of the Panthers' four points were aces by Jacobson. Pitt remained tight with Georgia Tech midway through the set, but the Yellow Jackets outscored the Panthers 11-6 to take a 21-15 lead and force a Pitt timeout. Georgia Tech capped off the set with three consecutive points to end it.
The Panthers turned it around in the second set and put away the Yellow Jackets, 25-19. Pitt trailed 9-5 early on and was forced to call its first timeout. The break worked as the Panthers came out to score three in a row and eventually fought back to tie the game at 14. Pitt took its first lead of the game at 19-18 after another three-point run, but Georgia Tech quickly tied things at 19. The Panthers went on a hot-streak at the end of the set and completed the game with six straight points, even after the Yellow Jackets called two timeouts.
Pitt came out cold after the intermission, which led to a third set, 25-20 loss. Georgia Tech forced the Panthers into two early timeout calls, as the Yellow Jackets got out to an 11-5 lead. Pitt fell behind by eight points midway through the set and was unable to catch Georgia Tech who quickly earned set point, 24-17. The Panthers fought off three of the Yellow Jackets' set points to come back within four, but a final kill by Georgia Tech's Ashley Askin finished off the set.
It was a close matchup in the fourth, but the Panthers fought to take the set, 25-21 and tie the match at 2-2 overall. Pitt jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the Yellow Jackets scored six points to the Panthers two to tie the game at 10-10. Back and forth points were the name of the game through the middle points of the set, until Pitt was able to take a 19-16 lead. Feeling threatened, Georgia Tech called a timeout to regroup but was unable to as the Panthers went on to force a fifth set.
Pitt and the Yellow Jackets began the fifth and final set in a tight race, as the first seven points went back-and-forth consecutively. The Panthers gained a bit of separation with the next two points, taking a 6-3 lead, which forced a Georgia Tech timeout. Pitt ended up on a five point run to take an 8-3 lead and remained ahead until the Yellow Jackets scored four straight to come back within one, 12-11. Just three points later, the set was tied at 13 all. With the match on the line, Pitt put together back-to-back points to go on and win the fifth set, 15-13.
Up Next
The Panthers continue home play against Clemson at the Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. Fans will be able to view the game live on ESPN3.
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