Pitt-Johnstown stormed back from two sets down Tuesday night, rallying past IUP for a 3-2 victory in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener at the Sports Center. Set scores were 25-27, 19-25, 25-18, 27-25 and 15-13.

Despite being outhit 60-59, the Mountain Cats (9-3) were clutch down the stretch, winning on match point in both the fourth and fifth sets. The comeback was largely sparked by Ellie Zuro Cirino, who recorded a match-high 20 kills, including six in the deciding frame.

Caroline Knight provided 14 kills and four service aces, while Dannika Susko added 11 kills and four blocks. Mallory Pinske was dominant at the net and the service line, racking up a match-high seven blocks and five service aces.

Abby Berry dished out a team-high 33 assists and added 12 digs. Avery Barrett had 17 assists, while Jessica Krug supplied a match-high 29 digs.

Neither team led by more than two points in an ultra-competitive fifth set. The Mountain Cats were down 8-6, 9-7 and 11-9, but erased all of those deficits to take back the momentum late. Down 11-9, Zuro posted three straight kills as part of a 4-0 run to go up 13-11.

It was tied at 13-all before another kill from Zuro and an error by IUP secured the victory. 

The Mountain Cats also had their backs against the wall late in the fourth set when they were down 23-19. Susko had two kills and Knight recorded two aces as part of a 5-0 run that put Pitt-Johnstown on top 24-23. With the score tied at 25, Pitt-Johnstown went up by one on a service error before Pinske prolonged the match with a thunderous kill.

Following a competitive start to the third set, Pitt-Johnstown took complete control. Up 15-13, a kill by Knight kickstarted a 5-0 run that pushed the lead to 20-13. The Mountain Cats went up by as many as eight, 23-15, on a kill from Knight and an IUP service error. A kill from Pinske brought the set to a close.

Pitt-Johnstown was down 24-23 before back-to-back IUP attack errors created a match point opportunity. However, IUP responded with back-to-back kills as part of a 3-0 run to go up 1-0.

Delaney Concannon provided a team-high 19 kills, while Peyton Belcher and Jessica Neiman added 15 kills apiece for the Hawks, who fell to 9-3.

Pitt-Johnstown will host East Stroudsburg at 6 p.m. on Friday in the Sports Center.