No. 3 Pitt Volleyball Survives Scare at Syracuse, 3-2

Friday, November 12

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 PM ET

Pitt

24-2,13-2ACC

Syracuse

16-11,5-10ACC

Pittsburgh

Syracuse

No. 3 Pitt Volleyball Survives Scare at Syracuse, 3-2

11/12/2021 11:19:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Member-Meneh Ties Career High in Kills

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh tied a career high with 23 kills as the No. 3 Pitt volleyball team (24-2, 13-2 ACC) survived a five-set battle at the Women's Building against Syracuse (16-11, 5-10 ACC) Friday night.

The Panthers surrendered a 2-0 lead (25-17, 25-18) when the Orange stormed back to win the third and fourth frames (25-16, 25-22). Pitt held on for the win in the fifth, 15-9.

Pitt had advantages in kills (67-57), assists (63-53), service aces (6-3) and hitting percentage (.269-.227). Syracuse had more digs (68-58) and blocks (11.0-9.0).

Member-Meneh's 23 kills are the most by a Panther in a single match this season. She hit .362 against the Orange and picked up nine digs for a near double-double.

Outside hitter Kayla Lund followed with a double-double of 14 kills and a team-best 13 digs. Right side Chinaza Ndee produced 12 kills and added four blocks.

Freshman setter Rachel Fairbanks contributed 27 assists in the first start of her career and added nine digs. Lexis Akeo had 21 assists for Pitt.

Middle blocker Serena Gray had a match-best five blocks.

SET ONE: No. 3 Pitt 25, Syracuse 17

Member-Meneh led the way for Pitt in the first frame with five kills, followed by Gray with three. Pitt stayed ahead for the entirety of the set, going ahead by as many as eight (21-13) after a 6-1 run. The Panthers hit a hot .500 while holding the Orange to .040 hitting.

SET TWO: No. 3 Pitt 25, Syracuse 18

The Panthers led wire-to-wire in the second frame, with zero ties and zero lead changes. A 3-0 run that included back-to-back Lund kills gave the Panthers an 18-9 advantage. The Orange tried to formulate a comeback, outscoring Pitt 6-1 to cut the margin go four (20-16), but Pitt used a 5-2 surge to end the frame in its favor. Member-Meneh had a match-best 10 kills through two sets.

SET THREE: Syracuse 25, No. 3 Pitt 16

Following a 5-4 lead for Pitt, it was all Syracuse. A 6-1 Orange surge put Syracuse ahead, 17-11, and later, three unanswered points made it 22-14. Syracuse cut Pitt's match lead in half, 2-1, after hitting .333 in the frame and holding Pitt to .081.

SET FOUR: Syracuse 25, No. 3 Pitt 22

Pitt took a 20-19 lead following a 3-0 run, but the Orange were able to outlast the Panthers and force a fifth set. Syracuse out-scored Pitt 5-1 to force the next frame, ending the set on an ace.

SET FIVE: No. 3 Pitt 15, Syracuse 9

The Panthers took control of the fifth with the help of a 5-0 run to gain a 13-6 lead. Pitt earned match point, 14-8, following a Gray kill. The Orang survived for one more point, but an attack error ended the match in Pitt's favor.

UP NEXT
No. 3 Pitt will conclude its ACC road schedule with a rematch at No. 14 Georgia Tech Friday, Nov. 19, before heading to Clemson Sunday, Nov. 21.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook