'Cuse Win Streak Ends At Three

Friday, November 15

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

13-14, 8-7ACC

Pittsburgh

14-14, 6-9ACC

Pittsburgh

Syracuse

Junior Nicolette Serratore had 10 kills and led the team with a .296 hitting percentage and seven digs

11/15/2013 8:47:00 PM | Volleyball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - In front of its largest home crowd of the season, Syracuse couldn't overcome a sluggish start and fell in straight sets to Pittsburgh in an Atlantic Coast Conference match on Friday, Nov. 15 in the Women's Building.

"It was great (the crowd)," said head coach Leonid Yelin. "I was disappointed with the outcome. They (the fans) deserved a better match."

After winning a close first two sets, Pittsburgh (14-14, 6-9 ACC) had little trouble wrapping up the third set to take the match (25-20, 25-23, 25-13). The loss was Syracuse's (13-14, 8-7 ACC) first in its past three matches and first at home in more than a month. The last time SU fell on its home court was to N.C. State on Oct. 6. It was also only the second time the Orange has been swept by an unranked opponent this season.

Sophomore Silvi Uattara and junior Nicolette Serratore both finished in double-figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. For Uattara, it was the 10th straight match reaching double-digits while Serratore tied for the team lead with seven digs. Sophomore Monika Salkute had a game-high six kills, including one solo. Redshirt junior Lindsay McCabe added four blocks, moving into sixth place in SU history with 418 career total blocks.

Neither team led by more than one in the first set until three in a row gave the Panthers a 10-7 lead the visitors would not give up. SU was able to pull within 19-17 following a kill and ace from Serratore. However, Pitt went on to score the next three points and the teams exchanged sideouts the rest of the way to give the Panthers a 25-20 victory.

SU came out fired up at the start of the second set and grabbed a commanding lead after an 8-2 run gave the Orange its largest lead at 11-4. The Panthers began to slowly chip away and took its first advantage of the set following a four point spurt capped by Kate Yeazel. During the stretch, Yeazel tallied a pair of kills and a block. The teams exchanged the lead back and forth over the next four points and with the set tied 20-20, Pitt went on top for good with two consecutive points. Once again, the teams closed out the set by trading sideouts.

Coming out of the break, Pitt controlled the momentum from the start with the Panthers jumping out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back. The Pittsburgh took its largest lead of the set at 21-8 following a 7-1 run and closed out the final two points on a kill and block from Yeazel.

Jessica Wynn and Monica Wignot paced the Panthers with 11 kills apiece. As a team, Pitt combined for nine service aces, with four coming from Jenna Jacobson. Delaney Clesen was the only player to reach double-figures in digs, getting to 10.

The Orange return to action on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. for senior day in the Women's Building.