Courtesy of Pitt Volleyball (@pitt_vb) on Instagram
Pitt volleyball is ranked #1 in the nation for the first time in its program history.
Their ranking is only part of the reason why this team is so impressive. They began their season undefeated, going 10-0. The last time Pitt went 10-0 in non-conference play, in 2021, they went to the Final Four. Pitt claimed victories over #10 Oregon, Long Beach State, Buffalo, #23 USC, Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara, #3 Penn State, East Carolina, RV Marquette, and UMBC.
And in all 10 matches, the Panthers won in just three sets! They’re the only NCAA Division I team to not drop a single set.
Perhaps the most notable victory for the Panthers during this thrilling start came when they beat their in-state rivals Penn State (25-15, 25-19, 25-18) at home in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1987. The attendance record for Pitt volleyball was broken, now set at 11,800, as the Panthers and Panthers fans watched Pitt beat Penn State, in just three sets.
Courtesy of Pitt Volleyball (@pitt_vb) on Instagram
Pitt won 30 straight sets heading into conference play. Their closest sets came against Oregon in week one, when they took the second set 27-25 and the third set 25-23, and against #23 USC when they took the first set 31-29.
The success of the Panthers comes from a complete team, too, as every athlete has contributed to the 30-0 run. In their last non-conference matchup, against UMBC, all 14 players saw playing time, and only two of their six starters played in the third set that they took 25-14. Additionally, 10 different players recorded kills and six different players recorded service aces.
Continuing their hot streak, though, won’t be a walk in the park, as the ACC is a dominant conference with seven nationally ranked teams.
But that won’t slow or cool Pitt down.
Pitt’s first ACC matchup came against Clemson. The Panthers beat the Tigers 25-21 in the first set, then 25-15 in the second set… and the Panthers also took the third set 25-13! The team was led by sophomore rightside hitter Olivia Babcock and sophomore outside hitter Torrey Stafford, who combined for 25 kills, redshirt junior middle blocker Bre Kelley, who recorded 7 blocks, and senior setter/rightside hitter Rachel Fairbanks, who had her third double-double of the season with 27 assists and 10 digs.
Pitt then took on #13 Georgia Tech, and they were on fire! They beat the Yellow Jackets in three sets (25-11, 25-17, 25-8). Babcock, Stafford, and sixth year outside hitter Valeria Vazquez Gomez combined for 32 kills. With 12 kills and 10 digs, Babcock also recorded her first double-double of the season. Fairbanks recorded 32 assists and eight digs, and Kelley recorded six blocks. The Panthers held the Yellow Jackets to -.043 hitting, the lowest they’ve held an opponent hitting this season.
The Panthers are the only NCAA team still undefeated this season.
Pitt’s next match is this Friday, October 4, at Boston College for another ACC matchup.
The Panthers will look to win their sixth ACC title and first national title this season.
Edited by Giana Robertaccio
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