Nwokolo To Return for Final Season of Eligibility

PITTSBURGH – Head coach Dan Fisher continues to build his deepest roster yet at Pitt with Friday’s announcement that middle blocker Chiamaka Nwokolo is returning to Pitt to utilize her final season of eligibility. A 2022 Second Team All-ACC selection, Nwokolo recorded career-highs in kills (166), blocks (118), and points (235.5), while posting a .374 hitting percentage in 34 matches (31 starts).
 
“Chia has been a major part of our success here at Pitt on and off the court,” said Fisher. “She is someone of high character who has been a great player and great leader for us. We are excited to be able to bring back someone of her caliber who has such a great understanding of the values and culture of our program.”
 
Nwokolo, one of four Pitt student-athletes to earn an ACC Postgraduate Scholarship, has helped Pitt to two ACC Championships, two Final Four and three Elite 8 appearances. She has been a vital member of the rise of Pitt Volleyball, playing in 108 matches and delivering 472 kills on .380 hitting while also adding 282 total blocks. Her .380 hitting is the highest career hitting percentage of any Panther in program history over a four-year span.
 
She was awarded Honorable Mention All-American status in 2020 after posting 1.73 kills/set on .411 hitting and .88 blocks/set and leading Pitt past the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. She posted one of the most efficient NCAA Tournament performances in program history, recording 41 kills on .473 hitting in Pitt’s Final Four run of 2022 earning herself a spot on the Madison All-Region Team for her performances in the Panthers victories over Florida and defending national champions, Wisconsin, at the UW Field House. Nwokolo is also a two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators in 2022.
 
The Panthers now return nine players from last year’s Final Four team, including a pair of 2022 All-American selection in Rachel Fairbanks and Valeria Vaxquez Gomez (along with Nwokolo who was an All-American in 2020). Pitt also returns Lexis Akeo, Julianna Dalton, Cat Flood, Dillyn Griffin, Rachel Jepsen, and Emmy Klika.
 
Fisher and his staff have added a pair of talented transfers Emma Monks…