Volleyball: Panthers lose to Duquesne, fall to 5-3

Pitt women’s volleyball team lost to cross-city rival Duquesne Tuesday night 3-2, dropping to… Pitt women’s volleyball team lost to cross-city rival Duquesne Tuesday night 3-2, dropping to 5-3 on the season.

Tied 2-2, Duquesne took the final set 15-9.

The loss marks the second consecutive year that Duquesne has defeated the Panthers.

The Dukes also upset Pitt last year at the Fitzgerald Field House, but the Panthers hold a 38-3 series lead.

Chelsea Tillotson led Duquesne to the win with a double-double, tallying 42 assists and 10 digs. Allyson Hodnik had 40 assists for the Panthers.

Meagan Dooley topped all Pitt players with 19 kills.

Pitt started the evening by dominating Duquesne 25-9 in the first set, but the Dukes won the next two sets 25-16 and 25-23.

The Panthers won the fourth set 25-20 in a showdown that featured seven lead changes before falling in the fifth.

With the loss, the Panthers’ record drops below those of Big East schools Villanova and West Virginia, both 5-2. South Florida (5-0) and Marquette (6-1) remain the top teams in the conference so far this season.

Duquesne, meanwhile, improves to 7-1 on the year. The Dukes start in-conference play Sept. 25 at Fordham.

Suddenly on a two-game losing streak after starting the season 5-1, the Panthers head to Albuquerque this weekend to face Baylor, Cal State Fullerton and New Mexico in the New Mexico Tournament.

After that, the Panthers return home to host the Blue and Gold Tournament. On Sept. 19, Pitt plays Valparaiso, then Middle Eastern Shore and Youngstown State the following day.