The No. 5 Pitt Panthers came out on top in a 3-2 neck-and-neck battle against the No. 11 SMU Mustangs on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Moody Coliseum. SMU entered the match looking to secure back-to-back wins over the Panthers, while Pitt came in hungry to avenge last year’s loss on the same court.

The match between the two top-15 teams was highly anticipated, with SMU President Jay Hartzell encouraging students to take a break from their studies and watch the teams battle it out. Hartzell, Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd, SMU Volleyball alumnae Natalie Foster and Nnedi Okammor were among the many fans who packed the coliseum.

The Panthers won the first set, surpassing the Mustangs 25-20. Although the Mustangs came out strong with a two-point lead, SMU lost six straight points and ultimately could not catch back up to the Panthers.

The Mustangs came back with momentum, taking the second set 25-23. Opposite hitter Malaya Jones led the way in the second set, collecting eight kills along with outside and opposite hitter Jadyn Livings’ 4 kills. The two are among the best pin-hitter duos in the nation.

Both teams were competitive in the third set; however, Pitt won 25-19.

In the fourth set, the Mustangs battled for each point. With the game on the line, outside hitter Madison Scheer provided a kill and back-to-back aces, moving the Mustangs into the fifth set. The Mustangs won the 4th set in a 25-18 victory.

For the final set, it was the Panthers who won and took home the victory and avenged last year’s loss in a 15-9 set. The Panthers took an 8-1 lead in the final set, and the Mustangs could not catch back up.

Before the match, both teams stood at an 8-2 record. Now SMU has an 8-3 record, while Pitt moves forward to a 9-2 record. The Mustangs will face the Pitt Panthers again in their next match this Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. in Pittsburgh. This time, the Mustangs will be the team seeking a win.