Miami Falls In Four Sets To No. 6 Pitt

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team dropped the hard-fought battle, 3-1, to No. 6 Pitt Sunday afternoon.

Miami (16-8, 9-5 ACC) tallied 50 kills, 41 digs, 47 assists and 13 blocks. Fifth year Savannah Vach surpassed 5,000 career assists  to jump her to No. 2 in program history.

Pitt took control of the first set, starting on a 11-2 score. The Canes collected 10 kills and two blocks to try and catch up, but the Panthers prevailed and took the first set, 25-15.

Set two looked a little different, with Miami keeping it close and leading 6-5. The Canes went on a 4-0 scoring run to make it 16-15 after a kill from sophomore Flormarie Heredia Colon and three block assists from graduate student Janice Leao. The set continued tight and was even at 23 until Pitt claimed two back-to-back points to take set two, 25-23.

Miami locked in for set three and led 8-5 to open. The Canes continued to lead 14-11 after a block and kill from graduate student Abby Casiano. The Panthers cut the deficit and tied it at 18-all. A kill from Savannah Vach, Heredia Colon and Lopez pushed the Canes to a 22-20 lead, ultimately taking the third set, 26-24.

The fourth set also opened neck-and-neck, with Pitt leading 8-7. The Panthers held the lead, despite the Canes tallying six kills. A huge save from Vach and back-to-back kills from Lopez and Grieve helped the Canes cut the deficit to tie it at 22-all. Pitt fought through Miami’s perseverance and took the final set, 25-23.

The Hurricanes will head to a Tallahassee, Fla., to face in-state rival Florida State on Sunday, Nov. 12.