The No. 21 North Carolina volleyball team (17–4, 10–2 ACC) was defeated by No. 4 Pittsburgh (19-3, 11-1 ACC) at Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon in five sets, 3-2. 

A huge second-set win sparked a plethora of energy from UNC, but it wasn’t enough to hold off a hard-hitting Pitt team in five closely-contested sets. 

Pitt began the first set in control. The Panthers built an early five-point lead that looked to put them in a prime position to take the first game. But it wouldn’t be without junior outside hitter Safi Hampton getting her name on the board to give North Carolina life. A kill by Hampton in the middle of the first set cut the Panthers’ lead to three, making the score 10-13. It was the closest UNC got to mounting a comeback. Pitt went on to win the first set, 25-18. 

UNC’s first lead of the match came on a service error during the opening play of the second set. The Panthers, hoping to maintain their momentum from the first set, quickly took the lead after their mistake. After the early lead change, UNC trailed throughout the majority of the set — never by more than three.

With the score at 18-17, the Tar Heels finally broke through on an ace from junior right-side hitter Hailey Pearce to even the game. The ace was all they needed to take control of the set, winning 25-22.

North Carolina jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the third set. A Panther timeout gave Pitt life to come roaring back, cutting the Tar Heel lead to two, but that didn’t deter UNC.

A 5-1 run in the middle of the set appeared to put North Carolina in control of the game, but once again, Pitt didn’t go away. The Panthers came back to win the set, 25-23. 

The fourth set kept the intensity of the third, starting neck-in-neck. After multiple ties, the set was taken over by Pitt on a huge hit to make it 14-13, but the Tar Heels battled. They forced a fifth set, winning 26-24. 

Pitt looked to close the match out quickly, starting the fifth set with a 6-2 run, and the Panthers did just that — winning, 17-15. 

UNC will travel to California to play Stanford on Friday, November 7, at 10 p.m.

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com

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