University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
21-7, 11-5ACC
NC State
15-13, 4-12ACC
Pitt Survives Five-Set Thriller at NC State
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score | Season Stats |VIDEO: Jenna Jacobson Postgame
RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team survived a five-set thriller against NC State, Saturday night at Carmichael Gymnasium.
In an extra points battle, the Panthers [21-7, 11-5 ACC] dropped the opening set 30-28 but bounced back to take the next two [25-22, 25-22]. The Wolfpack [15-13, 4-12 ACC] tied the match at 2-2, winning the fourth set 25-21, but Pitt outscored NC State 15-11 in the final set.
Three Panthers registered double-digit kills in tonight’s match, including graduate student Kadi Kullerkann (21), sophomore Mariah Bell (16) and senior Amanda Orchard (13). Orchard led the pack with a .385 hitting percentage, while Kullerkann increased her double-digit kill streak with ten-plus kills in a match to 18.
Orchard and Bell were two-of-three players to also earn double-doubles, as Orchard added a career high 10 blocks to her 13 kills and Bell put up 14 digs to go along with her 16 kills. Senior Jenna Jacobson was the third player to register a double-double, posting 39 assists and 13 digs. Bell now has nine double-doubles on the season, while Jacobson has eight. Jacobson also added career-high five aces to the mix.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Angela Seman led the team with 21 digs. Pitt put up a season-high 34 blocks.
NC State got the jump on Pitt in the first set getting out to a quick 4-1 lead, however the Panthers fought back to tie the game at 9-9. The Wolfpack took a hefty lead midway through the set but Pitt went on to outscore NC State 9-2 to take its first lead at 21-20. From that point, there were 10 tied scores and seven lead changes. Pitt earned three set points, but was unable to capitalize as NC State went on to win, 30-28.
The Panthers bounced back in the second set to tie the match, 1-1, after picking up a 25-22 win. Pitt and the Pack remained close throughout most of the set, as no team led by more than three points. It wasn’t until late in the match when the Panthers went on a five-point run that they began to pull away, which was partially in thanks to four errors by the Wolfpack. While NC State threated to catch Pitt, the Panthers held off a potential comeback with a timeout call and a final kill by Orchard.
The Panthers gained a 2-1 advantage in the match after defeating the Wolfpack, 25-22, in the third set. Pitt returned from the break on fire, getting out to an 8-4 lead to begin. Following an NC State timeout the Wolfpack pulled back within one of the Panthers, but Pitt didn’t let NC State hang around for long as it scored five straight to take a 20-15 lead. The Wolfpack didn’t go down easy as a five point run tied the game at 20, but Pitt put up another five quick points to end the set.
The Panthers dropped the fourth set 25-21, which tied the match at 2-2 overall. Pitt started off the with a three-point lead but once again a hefty run by NC State left the Pack with the lead. The Panthers tied the game four times throughout the remainder of the set, including 19-19, but were unable to grab the lead.
In a crazy fifth set, Pitt took down NC State 15-11, following a six point run to end the match. The Panthers took a 4-2 right off the bat, but five consecutive points by the Wolfpack turned the score the other way. Pitt was able to tie the game at nine but was forced to call its second timeout as NC State turned around a kill and a block to take a two-point lead. Trailing 11-9, the Panthers returned from timeout to score six straight points and win the match, which was capped off by a Jenna Jacobson service ace.
Up Next
Pitt will conclude its season at home with four consecutive matches. The Panthers will begin their four-game home stand with Boston College on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. and play their second on Sunday Nov. 22 against Syracuse at 1 p.m. Pitt is currently undefeated at home with an 11-0 record.
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