After losing 0-3 on Friday, the Penn State women's volleyball team bounced back in a big way on Sunday, handing in-state rival Pitt its first loss of the 2019 season.
The No. 4 Nittany Lions topped the No. 6 Panthers in five sets (28-26, 21-25, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) on Sunday in Pittsburgh. The match set a Pitt program record for attendance at the Petersen Events Center, with an announced crowd of 5,195 fans attending.
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In the decisive fifth set, Penn State jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Pitt charged back to tie it at 14-14. The Nittany Lions then took the next two points for the win.
Allyson Cathey sealed the win for the Nittany Lions with a kill and then by forcing a Pitt attack error. She finished the match with 15 kills, six digs and four blocks.
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Leading the way for Penn State was Jonni Parker, who had 17 kills, three aces, a block and eight digs. Gabby Blossom had 43 assists, five blocks and 17 digs.
Penn State won the first set on a Pitt attack error, set up by a block from Blossom. On the third set, the Nittany Lions captured victory via an ace from Serena Gray.
Gabby Blossom was masterful running the Nittany Lion offense as No. 4 @PennStateVBALL bounced back to defeat No. 6 Pitt in a five set thriller!#NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/59GdCRhCNr
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) September 22, 2019
For Pitt, Kayla Lund had 23 kills, three blocks and 17 digs. Lexis Akeo added 47 assists.
Pitt begins ACC play in its next match, traveling to Charlottesville to face Virginia. Meanwhile, Penn State faces Michigan State in a Big Ten clash that will air on FS1. Both matches are Wednesday, Sept. 25.
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