Four Panthers Named to Preseason All-ACC Team

PITTSBURGH – Rachel Fairbanks, Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Chiamaka Nwokolo and newcomer Bre Kelley were named to the preseason All-ACC team on Thursday, announced by the conference office. The Panthers were picked to finish second in the ACC, receiving 189 total points, one point from a first place selection. The Panthers received seven first place votes by ACC head coaches. 

Fairbanks has done it all for the Panthers in her first two years in a Pitt jersey. She enjoyed a breakout season in her sophomore campaign in 2022, being named an AVCA Third-Team All American and Volleymag.com Fourth-Team All American. In addition, she was named AVCA All-East Coast Region, All-ACC Second Team and earned a spot on the Madison NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. Fairbanks recorded two triple-doubles last season and became the first Panther to do so in an NCAA Tournament match. She registered 10 kills, 28 assists and 13 digs against BYU in the Round of 32.

Vazquez Gomez impressed in 2022, being named an AVCA Second-Team All American for the first time in her career. She earned a spot on the Volleyballmag.com All-America Fourth Team and AVCA All-East Coast Region Team while also being tabbed the ACC Player of the Week twice in her senior season. She registered a career-best 359 kills, 291 digs, 40 blocks, 32 assists and 24 aces as a six rotation outside hitter. 

Nwokolo earned her spot on the preseason All-ACC team after a strong senior season. She earned All-ACC 2nd Team honors and was named to the Madison NCAA Tournament All-Region Team after registering 20 kills and five blocks while hitting a blistering .436%. Nwokolo registered a career-high 166 kills, 118 blocks, 235.5 points and four aces for the season.

Kelley enters her first season in a Pitt jersey after playing her first two years at the University of Florida. She was influential during her tenure, registering 262 kills, 203 of which came in her sophomore season, 175 blocks and 45 digs while hitting .351%. Kelley was named to the 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 17, 2022). Kelley, Fairbanks and Head Coach Dan Fisher earned a gold medal at the Pan American Cup this summer.

The Panthers open their season on Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. EST in Missoula,…