Panthers Head South, Take on Florida State and Miami

PITTSBURGH – The No. 6 Pitt volleyball team (20-3, 11-1 ACC) hits the road to play Florida State (16-8, 10-2 ACC) on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. in Tallahassee before taking on Miami (15-7, 8-4 ACC) in Coral Gables on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

The Panthers lead the series against Florida State 13-5 and have won the last nine matches. Most recently, Pitt defeated the Seminoles at home in four sets. Rachel Fairbanks recorded 23 assists while Valeria Vazquez Gomez notched eight kills and four digs. 

Pitt dominates the all-time series against Miami 13-4 and have won 10 matches in a row. The Panthers swept the Hurricanes last season as Vazquez Gomez once against led Pitt with a double-double, notching 11 kills and 11 digs. Julianna Dalton also added 10 kills and six digs. The Hurricanes are led by fifth year setter Savanna Vach who leads the ACC in assists per set. 

SENIOR SWEEP

• Pitt swept the Demon Deacons on Sunday on Senior Day, hitting .416 and recording 50 kills to Wake Forest’s 33.

• Olivia Babcock recorded a match-high 14 kills, hitting .462 while Stafford notched 11 kills on a .400 hitting clip

• This match marked the 10th straight season Coach Dan Fisher has led his squad to 20 wins. 

VVG IS BACK!

• The 2022 AVCA Second Team All-American has announced that she will return next season for her final year of eligibility.

• Vazquez Gomez is currently second in digs and aces and third in kills.

• She has totaled 749 kills, 719 digs, 76 aces and 74 assists. 

GRITTY PANTHERS

• The Panthers are currently second in the nation in opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to an average .133.

• The combination of Pitt’s block and backcourt defense has been tough to stop this season, and it has held 11 opponents to less than a .100 hitting percentage. 

DUAL THREAT

• Emma Monks and Chiamaka Nwokolo impress defensively, but they are currently top 15 in the nation in hitting efficiency.

• Nwokolo sits at fifth with a .456 clip while Monks is 11th with a .421 percentage. 

BLOCK PARTY

• The Pitt Panthers are currently first in the nation in blocks per set (3.11).

• Chiamaka Nwokolo, Rachel Jepsen, Olivia Babcock and Emma Monks have all registered at least six blocks in a match so far this season. 

•