The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women’s volleyball team defeated D’Youville in straight sets Tuesday evening in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference match at the KOA Arena.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 3-2 through their first five conference games.
“I thought we played a lot better as the match progressed,” head coach Tom Roof said. “We earned a presence at the net and that became the difference in the game. It was good to finally be back home in our gym with our fans. That does make a huge difference.”
Down much of the first set, the Panthers rallied and gained some late momentum to earn the tight 25-23 win.
Set two remained close in the early parts but it was all Panthers as D’Youville struggled with Payton Orzech’s serve while Erin Fagan and Ally Easton became tough defenders up front.
Pitt-Bradford took set two, 25-16.
Set three was much of the same as the Panthers continued to play tough defense. Pitt-Bradford gained separation in the score with Laura Hildebrand on the serve, and eventually secured the victory, 25-19.
Riley Anderson led the team with 12 kills while Emily Cleveland had nine. Fagan and Easton had seven each. Orzech assisted 42 of the Panthers’ 49 kills. Hildebrand had 18 digs.
Cleveland and Fagan assisted three blocks each.
Pitt-Bradford will be in action next on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when the Panthers play host to Medaille for a 7 p.m. start.
Fredonia tops UPB tennis, 7-2
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford fell to Fredonia, 7-2, at the Kessel Athletic Complex Tuesday evening.
“At times, we were eager to exploit our all-court game,” head coach Susan Schenfield said. “We just need to be patient picking the right moment to stay back and grind, feather a drop shot or transition to the net.”
The No. 1 doubles team of Alexa Holleran and Ashley Stoltz came out on top in a tiebreaker, winning it 10-7.
The Panthers put up a strong fight in No. 3 doubles as Jessica Jordan and Kaetyln Wells battled to a close 8-4 loss.
Pitt-Bradford got its second point from Aaliya Smith, who won at No. 6 singles, 8-6.
The No. 4 singles matchup featuring Wells saw a close match, but she ultimately fell, 8-4.
Pitt-Bradford will play its final match of the season Friday as D’Youville comes to town. With two conference wins, the Panthers remain on the cusp of earning a playoff berth.
