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BYU's Aria McComber dives for a ball during an NCAA second round match at Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU women's volleyball players celebrate a point during a second round NCAA Tournament match at Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Whitney Bower (7) sets teammate Heather Gneiting in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Erin Livingston (10) swings against the block of Pittsburgh during an NCAA second round match on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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PITTSBURGH — No. 7 seed BYU women’s volleyball fell to host and No. 2 seed Pittsburgh in three sets (21-25, 22-25, 18-25) in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament at Petersen Events Center on Saturday night.

The Cougars (22-7, 15-3 WCC) hit .236 to the Panthers .299, but recorded just 35 kills while Pitt put down 56 kills. BYU out-blocked the Panthers nine to three but Pitt totaled 16 more digs than the Cougars, at 58 to 42.

Outside hitter Erin Livingston finished with 13 kills, while middle blocker Heather Gneiting added five. Middle blocker Kate Prior, setter Whitney Bower and outside hitter Elyse Stowell contributed four kills each.

Bower tallied 25 assists, with libero Kelsey Knudsen recording 10 digs. Gneiting tied her season-high with seven total blocks. Livingston was second on the team with four.

“The whole season we’ve had tons of fight and tons of energy,” Anderson said. “The strength of our team is to come in the huddle give energy and confidence to our players. That helped us to go on some runs. I’m super proud of this team, especially the seniors who brought so much. BYU is a special place to play and I love BYU.”

A Kate Prior-Gneiting double block and Alyssa Montoya ace made it 18-15, Panthers, late in the first set. Kills by Elyse Stowell and Livingston, as well as a Gneiting-Livingston double block made it 22-18, Pitt as BYU took its second timeout. The Cougars scored on a Whitney Bower dump kill and two kills from Livingston down the stretch, but Pitt would take the first set, 25-21.

BYU answered an early 6-0 Pitt run with a 5-0 run of its own, tying the second set at 7-all. The Panthers took seven of the next 10 points and led 14-10. With a 3-0 run, BYU cut the Pitt lead to two, at 16-14, forcing a Panther timeout.

Pitt took four of the next six to go ahead 20-16. A Whitney Llarenas quick-hitter, two kills by Livingston and an Eden Bower kill kept the Cougars in it, as Pitt called its second timeout with a 23-20 advantage.

Gneiting was involved in two double blocks, one with Livingston and the other with Whitney Bower, to draw within one at 23-22, but a service error and Panther kill closed out the second set for Pitt, 25-22.

The Panthers controlled Set 3 early and led 16-6, with a cross-court Livingston kill and Gneiting service ace ending a big Pitt run. Whitney Bower won a joust at the net, Eden Bower dropped a tip kill, Prior sent one cross-court and Whitney Bower scored on a dump to then make it 20-13.

Two slide kills by Gneiting had the Cougars down 22-16. A Livingston tip kill and Aria McComber ace capped off a 4-0 BYU run that had the Cougars within four, but Pitt scored the next three points to close out the final set, 25-18.

“I’m really proud of our group and the match they played tonight,” Olmstead said. “I want to congratulate Pitt on advancing. I thought they played a great match, and I wish them all the best in the tournament. I thought they’ve been great hosts. It’s been great to be out here. I’m proud of our team, the fight that we gave them and I’m really proud of the season that we put together. It was just a good opportunity for us to be out here and play in Pittsburgh, so we’ll cherish this opportunity and be grateful for it.”

Pitt (29-3) will advance to the Sweet 16 to take on No. 3 seed Florida in Madison, Wis. Game time and broadcast plans for the regional semifinals will be announced at a later date.

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