Pittsburgh handed Syracuse its third straight loss in a tightly contested, three-set match.

After losing to Louisville on Friday, the Orange (8-15, 1-10 Atlantic Coast) scored more than 20 points in all three sets versus Pittsburgh (19-4, 7-3) but failed to notch a set victory in Fitzgerald Field House on Saturday afternoon. SU struggled offensively, as only outside hitter Silvi Uattara recorded double-digit kills. SU didn’t lead in the match until the first point in the third.

The Panthers steadily racked up points in the beginning of the first set, allowing SU to hold serve only twice while jumping out to a 15-9 lead. The Orange proved resilient, winning 10 out of the next 15 points to make the score 20-19.

A Pitt kill was followed by two Panther attack errors, tying the set at 21. However, two Pitt kills combined with two Uattara attack errors to give Pittsburgh the set, 25-21.

The second set showed much of the same, as Pitt rallied to a 20-12 lead. Again, the Orange was able to make a comeback attempt, winning seven of the next nine.

After Pitt got to set point, SU pulled within one on a Monika Salkute block. On the next point, setter Gosia Wlaszczuk made a ball-handling error, giving Pitt the set, 25-23.

SU got its first lead of the match in the third set, winning the first point. The Orange promptly gave up the lead, but never let the Panthers lead by more than five.

Facing set point, 24-21, SU won four straight points on Pitt attack errors to take a 25-24 lead. Two Pitt kills preceded a Stacey Smith attack error that gave Pittsburgh the set, 27-25, and the match, 3-0.

Compiled by staff writer Jack Rose, jlrose@syr.edu

Published on November 2, 2014 at 7:14 pm