Volleyball Drops Onerous Fought Battle with No. 3 Pitt

PITTSBURGH – Opening the 2025 season on the State Farm College Volleyball Showcase, No. 25 TCU fell to No. 3 Pitt in 4 units on Sunday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena.

The Horned Frogs (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) had their possibilities, however a hungry Pitt (1-2, 0-0 ACC) workforce held off late comeback makes an attempt to earn its first win of the season. For TCU, it marked the primary of 5 matches in opposition to ranked opponents to start out the 2025 marketing campaign.

Jalyn Gibson led the Frogs with 18 kills on a .471 clip. It marked the senior captain’s 50^th profession match with double-digit kills. Lauren Murphy shined in her TCU debut. The Ohio State switch has an especially environment friendly afternoon, ending with 10 kills on 14 swings (.571).

The match had further which means for sophomore Becca Kelley, who lined up throughout the online from her sister Bre, who performs for Pitt. The Kelley sisters battled on the web. Becca completed with six kills and a block, whereas Bre tallied three kills and 7 blocks.

TCU and Pitt break up the primary two units to start out the afternoon. Gibson fittingly picked up the primary two kills of the match and the season for the Frogs. TCU and Pitt traded factors within the early going till the Panthers discovered separation, happening a 6-0 run by way of the media timeout. Trailing 11-17, Gibson helped the Frogs facet out and sparked a 7-1 run with a kill and an ace to tie the arrange at 18. Pitt went on one other late 4-0 run to earn set level and survived as TCU clawed again inside one to take the opening set.

The Frogs responded within the second. After each groups battled for the lead, it was TCU who strung collectively 4 unanswered factors, three of which got here off swings by Murphy, to take a 12-9 lead. The Frogs by no means relinquished the lead from there, night the match at one set apiece with a 25-22 set victory.

Pitt jumped out to a 10-5 benefit within the third. TCU tried to climb again into issues, however the Panthers outhit the Frogs .419 to .094 to take the set 25-15.

Looking to increase the match, TCU hung with Pitt by way of many of the fourth set. Tied by way of the primary 18 factors, a small 3-0 run proved to be the spark Pitt wanted to shut out the match and maintain off the Frogs.

TCU is again in motion on Monday, Sept. 1, taking up No. 2 Penn State. First serve is ready for 4 p.m. CT on FOX.

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