BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's volleyball team defeated D'Youville in straight sets Tuesday evening in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference match at the KOA Arena. 

With the win, the Panthers improve to 3-2 through their first five conference games.

"I thought we played a lot better as the match progressed," Head Coach Tom Roof said. "We earned a presence at the net and that became the difference in the game. It was good to finally be back home in our gym with our fans. That does make a huge difference."

Down much of the first set, the Panthers rallied and gained some late momentum to earn the tight 25-23 win.

Set two remained close in the early parts but it was all Panthers as D'Youville struggled with Payton Orzech's serve while Erin Fagan and Ally Easton became tough defenders up front.

Pitt-Bradford took set two, 25-16.

Set three was much of the same as the Panthers continued to play tough defense. Pitt-Bradford gained separation in the score with Laura Hildebrand on the serve, and eventually secured the victory, 25-19.

Riley Anderson led the team with 12 kills while Emily Cleveland had nine. Fagan and Easton had seven each.

Orzech assisted 42 of the Panthers' 49 kills.

Hildebrand had 18 digs.

Cleveland and Fagan assisted three blocks each.

Pitt-Bradford will be in action next on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when the Panthers play host to Medaille for a 7 p.m. start.