Pitt-Johnstown used a match-high 17 kills from Ellie Zuro Cirino and 14 kills from Caroline Knight to close out a perfect 3-0 weekend with a 3-sets-to-1 victory over the hosts in Saturday's final round of the Virginia State University Tournament in Petersburg, Va.
 
The Mountain Cats took the opening set, 25-19, before the Trojans answered with a 25-23 win.  However, Pitt-Johnstown finished strong with 25-15 and 25-21 victories to claim the match.
 
Zuro Cirino, who hit .350 for the match, collected 17 kills, 10 digs, two blocks, and one service ace, and Knight tallied 14 kills, four aces, and a dozen digs to pace Pitt-Johnstown.  Dannika Susko hit .500 and finished with eight kills and a pair of blocks, while Natalie Lippincott had seven kills, and Mallory Pinske chipped-in five kills, two block assists, and an ace.
 
The Mountain Cats also used a match-high 44 set assists, four digs, and two aces from Abby Berry, a match-high 24 digs from Jessica Krug, and 10 digs from Avery Koontz.
 
Virginia State, which fell to 0-4 to begin the season, got seven kills each from Amaya Cooper, Gracie Darville, Morgan Green, and Skylar Johnson.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will make its 2025 home debut with a non-conference match against Point Park on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Sports Center, before traveling to the Frostburg State (MD) Tournament next weekend.