No. 5 Pitt’s 23-Match Win Streak Ends at Duke, 3-1

Sunday, October 28

Durham, N.C.

1 PM EST

Pitt

23-1, 11-1ACC

Duke

13-8, 7-5ACC

Pitt

Duke

No. 5 Pitt’s 23-Match Win Streak Ends at Duke, 3-1

10/28/2018 4:10:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

Panthers Fall to Blue Devils in Four Sets

DURHAM, N.C. – The No. 5 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (23-1, 11-1 ACC) suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Duke (13-8, 7-5 ACC), 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils earned the win with scores of 18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-22. After Pitt claimed the first set, the Panthers fell in the second and third, finding themselves in their first 2-1 deficit of the season. Duke closed the match with a win in the fourth.

Two Panthers posted season-high numbers in the kill column, with junior middle hitter Layne Van Buskirk recording a career-best 18 kills on a .567 hitting percentage. Junior right side Nika Markovic tied her season highwith 18 kills and rounded out her fourth double-double of the year with 11 digs.

Sophomore outside Kayla Lund had her team-leading 11th double-double of the year with 14 kills and a match-high 16 digs. Senior libero Angela Seman followed with 15 digs.

Setters Kamalani Akeo and redshirt sophomore Kylee Levers had 26 and 27 assists, respectively.

Duke had a .316 to .250 advantage in hitting percentage and out-killed the Panthers, 64-60. Pitt had the edge in digs, 65-60, and assists, 59-58.

Set One: No. 5 Pitt 25, Duke 18

The Panthers used a strong offensive start to gain an 8-2 lead following a 5-0 run. Van Buskirk killed her first six attempts of the match and ultimately went 7-of-8 for the set with one error (.750). The Blue Devils cut Pitt's lead to two points at multiple instances, the latest being 17-15. Pitt closed the set on an 8-3 run to win the first frame, 25-18.

Van Buskirk led the way for Pitt as the Panthers hit .361 in the set and posted 18 kills.

Set Two: Duke 26, No. 5 Pitt 24

The teams went point-for-point for the first seven serves, with three ties, until a 4-1 run put Duke ahead, 7-4. The Panthers used a 3-0 run to cut the Blue Devils' lead to 12-11, but Duke responded with a 6-1 run to earn its largest led of the set, 18-12. However, Pitt surged with a 10-3 run to take its first lead of the frame, 22-21. Three more ties ensued before Duke ended the set on a 3-0 run, forcing extra points, to win 26-24.

The Blue Devils out-hit Pitt, .244 to .190.

Set Three: Duke 25, No. 5 Pitt 23

The third set was marked by 19 ties and five lead changes. Neither team scored more than two points in a row since Pitt led, 11-10. Duke scored three consecutive points to gain a 23-21 lead and didn't look back, winning the frame 25-23.

Duke's 2-1 advantage was Pitt's first 2-1 deficit on the season. The Blue Devils hit .500 for the set compared to Pitt's .333.

Set Four: Duke 25, No. 5 Pitt 22

There were eight ties to begin the fourth set until a 3-0 run put Duke ahead, 12-9. The Panthers tied the set, 15-15, following a 3-0 run of its own, and eventually gained an 18-16 lead following another 3-0 run. The Blue Devils took back control with a 5-0 run to earn match point, 24-20. Pitt fought through two resulting match points, but ultimately fell, 25-22.

Duke held a .295 to .182 advantage in hitting percentage for the frame.

UP NEXT

No. 5 Pitt continue its ACC road swing with matches at Georgia Tech (Friday, Nov. 2) and at Clemson (Sunday, Nov. 4). Each match will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available via the WatchESPN app.

2018 PITT VOLLEYBALL TICKETS

Flex season ticket packages as well as single-match and group tickets for the 2018 volleyball season are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Panthers' Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT (7488) or online at PittsburghPanthers.com.

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