They’re Elite! Louisville and Pitt to Meet in 2023 NCAA Quarterfinals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – No. 1 seed Pitt and No. 2 seed Louisville will square off in the Elite 8 of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship as the Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball season reaches its peak. 

The rematch of the historic 2022 NCAA Semifinal match will mark Louisville’s third-straight and Pitt’s fourth-straight trip to the Elite 8. It also guarantees a spot for the ACC in this year’s Final Four.

The Cardinals own a 20-15 record in the all-time series between the two programs, featuring a 1-1 record from this season. Louisville swept Pitt on Oct. 13 at home, before Pitt battled to a 3-2 victory on home turf on Nov. 18.

Second-seeded Louisville (27-4) earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over third-seeded Creighton on Thursday with Charitie Luper and ACC Player of the Year Anna DeBeer combining for 39 kills. The Cards never trailed in the first set, hitting .400 with a block led by Luper and DeBeer’s six kills apiece. Creighton took the second set, but Louisville bounced back in the third. The Bluejays forced a fifth set where Louisville earned a decisive 15-8 win. Elle Glock posted 49 assists and Elena Scott had 29 digs for the Cards. 

No. 1 seed Pitt rolled past fourth-seed Washington State, 3-0, never letting the Cougars get past 20 points. ACC Freshman of the Year Olivia Babcock had 15 kills, hitting at a .500 clip with five blocks and four aces. ACC Setter of the Year Rachel Fairbanks recorded 31 assists, seven digs and three blocks to send the Panthers into the next round.

The Elite 8 matchup is set for Saturday, Dec. 9. Time will be announced later this evening.

NCAA Championship

Thursday, Dec. 7 (Quarterfinals)

No. 2 Louisville (27-4) at No. 1 Pitt (28-4)

Noting ACC Volleyball  

• Three ACC teams advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Volleyball DI Championship: top-seeded Pitt, No. 2 seed Louisville and No. 5 seed Georgia Tech. 
• Georgia Tech fell 3-0 to top-seeded Nebraska on the road Thursday afternoon.
• No. 6 seed Florida State fell in the first round, 3-1, to TCU. Miami defeated UNI, 3-1, in the first round, but saw their season come to a close in the second round, falling to No. 1 seed Wisconsin. 
• Four ACC teams were ranked in the latest AVCA/TARAFLEX poll: No. 4 Pitt, No. 7 Louisville, No. 12 Georgia Tech and No. 22 Florida…