Panthers Drop Season Opener in Five Sets at Syracuse

Friday, September 25

Syracuse, N.Y.

5 PM ET

Pitt

0-1,0-1ACC

Syracuse

1-0,1-0ACC

Pittsburgh

Syracuse

Panthers Drop Season Opener in Five Sets at Syracuse

9/25/2020 9:32:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score Box Score

Pitt Volleyball Falls to Orange in Tightly Contested Match

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior right side Chinaza Ndee contributed a match-high 21 kills as the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (0-1, 0-1 ACC) fell in a five-set thriller to open its 2020 fall season at Syracuse (1-0, 1-0 ACC) Friday night at the Women's Building.

After the Panthers took the opening set (25-21), the Orange claimed the next two frames (25-17, 26-24). Pitt forced a fifth set following a 27-25 win in the fourth but was unable to seal the deal, falling 15-9 in the fifth.

It was Syracuse's first win against the Panthers since Nov. 22, 2015, at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh (3-1), snapping a five-match streak.

Ndee hit .392 for the night with 21 kills on 51 swings with one error. She also put up three blocks. Co-captain Kayla Lund followed Ndee with 16 kills in a double-double effort, contributing a team-high 16 digs. Outside hitter Zoi Faki and middle blocker Sabrina Starks had 10 kills apiece.

Sophomore setter Lexis Akeo had a team-best 32 assists. In her first match since the 2018 season after recovering from an ACL injury, redshirt senior setter Kylee Levers had 20 assists.

In her first start as a Panther, sophomore middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo had a team-best four blocks while contributing four kills.

Syracuse had a better hitting percentage (.269 to .250), while Pitt had the upper hand in kills (69-66), and assists (68-62). The Orange had more service aces (6-3) and blocks (13.0-8.0).

Set One: Pitt 25, Syracuse 21

Pitt opened its first set of the 2020 fall season on a 6-3 run. The Panthers held a 17-12 lead, but the Orange cut it to 18-17 following a 5-1 surge. Pitt earned set point, 24-19, after a Jordan Lockwood kill, and then ultimately secured the win, 25-21.

The Panthers held the advantage in hitting percentage, at .375 to .242.

Set Two: Syracuse 25, Pitt 17

Syracuse jumped out to a 4-1 lead and kept momentum for the remainder of the set. The Orange led 18-10 and secured the second frame with a 25-17 win to tie the match at one set apiece.

Syracuse held Pitt to .184 hitting while posting a .361 percentage.

Set Three: Syracuse 26, Pitt 24

Following four early ties, a 7-0 run gave Syracuse an 11-4 lead. The Orange held the momentum and secured a 19-11 margin, but Pitt answered with a 13-5 surge to tie the set at 24, fighting off six set points for Syracuse. The Orange finished the frame in extra points with a 26-24 win, going up 2-1 in the match.

Set Four: Pitt 27, Syracuse 25

The Panthers were the first to reach 20 points, up 20-17, but then the Orange used a 3-0 run to tie it. The set knotted up again at 22, then Syracuse took a 23-22 lead. Pitt responded to earn set point in extras, 25-24, and held on to force a fifth set with a 27-25 win.

Ndee had seven of her 21 kills in the frame, hitting .538.

Set Five: Syracuse 15, Pitt 9

The fifth set saw six ties and four lead changes. A Lund kill brought the Panthers within two points, down 10-8, but the Orange was able to outscore the Panthers 5-1 to end the match with a 15-9 win.

UP NEXT
Pitt and Syracuse will meet again Saturday night for their second and final match of the weekend, set for 6 p.m. ET at the Women's Building on ACC Network Extra.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook