Pitt
6-2,0-0ACC
#7 Oregon
8-1,0-0Pac-12
Panthers Fight, Fall to Oregon in Five
9/14/2023 11:20:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH –The No. 8 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (6-2, 0-0 ACC) came back from two sets down, but ultimately dropped a hard-fought five-setter to No. 7 Oregon (8-1, 0-0 Pac-12) on Friday night at the Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers and Ducks went at it from the first point of the match, as neither team held more than a three-point advantage throughout the first set. The Panthers found some separation thanks to Olivia Babcock who killed a few balls to push the score to 13-10. A pair of Pitt errors and a three-point service run from Oregon's Mimi Colyer brought the score to 14-14. After a surge of momentum from the Panthers, they had set point, 24-21, but Oregon finished the first set on a 5-0 run behind four kills to take the first set, 26-24.
Despite losing a tight first set, Pitt came out firing in the second, tying things up at nine a piece. Shortly after, a three-point service run from Oregon's libero Georgia Murphy pushed the score to 12-10 for the Ducks. A pair of Oregon errors and a Torrey Stafford kill brought the score within one at 14-15, but a 10-3 run for the Ducks was too much for Pitt to overcome as Oregon took the second set, 25-17.
Pitt came out of the break with a renewed energy, getting out to an early 9-2 lead behind a strong six-point service run from Valeria Vazquez Gomez. The Panthers never let up, holding at least a five-point lead for the remainder of the set. Six team blocks and impressive back court defense from junior libero Emmy Klika held Oregon to a .000 hitting percentage, handily winning set three, 25-18.
The Ducks quickly rebounded after their third set loss, getting out to an early 8-4 lead behind a kill and service ace from Colyer. Pitt would eventually make thing interesting, tying the match up at 13-13 behind a balanced Panther offense from Vazquez Gomez, Stafford and Rachel Jepsen. After being down 14-16, Pitt surged forward, scoring 11 of the remaining 15 points in the fourth set. Strong serving from Stafford, Cat Flood and two final service aces from Vazquez Gomez allowed Pitt to take the fourth set 25-20 and force a fifth.
Both programs battled at the beginning of the fifth set, going point for point until the Ducks got out to a 10-7 lead in which Oregon called a timeout. The Panthers would quickly respond as Babcock and Stafford registered a kill and the Ducks had an attacking error, tying the match, 10-10. A pair of Oregon's Morgan Lewis kills, a Duck error and Stafford kill tied the match yet again at 13-13. A Pitt attack error and Oregon kill was enough for the Ducks to take the match, 3-2.
UP NEXT
The No. 8 Panthers will play James Madison on Saturday and will wrap up the weekend against High Point on Sunday. Saturday's match will begin at 7 p.m., and the first whistle on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.
MATCH NOTES
• Junior libero Emmy Klika recorded a career-high 24 digs along with eight assists
• Freshman right side Olivia Babcock registered a career-high 16 kills while hitting .306 and added five blocks and seven digs
• Rachel Fairbanks was one dig away from a double-double as she had 29 assists and nine digs
