No. 1 Seed Pitt Hosts Louisville in Regional Finals

PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 seed Pitt volleyball team (28-4, 16-2 ACC) plays No. 2 seed and ACC rival Louisville (27-4, 15-3 ACC) on Saturday for a spot in the National Semifinals in the Fitzgerald Field House. First serve is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPNU. 

The Panthers trail in the all-time series against the Cardinals 15-19 but won the most recent match on Nov. 18 in the Petersen Events Center. After being down two sets to none, the Panthers strung together three consecutive sets to win the match and eventually solidify a share of the ACC Championship. The all-time program attendance record was set at the match as 8,865 fans witnessed the win. 

Pitt and Louisville have played five times in the past two seasons as both teams defended their home court twice. The Cardinals defeated Pitt in the National Semifinals last season in a five-set battle. The Panthers look to even the score for a chance to advance the National Semifinals for the third time in three seasons. With a win, Pitt would be the only team in the country to compete in the final weekend of play the past three seasons.

PANTHERS OWN THE EAST

• A program-high seven Panthers were named to the AVCA East Coast Region Team on Tuesday.

• Rachel Fairbanks earned AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year while Olivia Babcock notched Freshman of the Year honors.

• A Panther has notched the Player of the Year award for the third time in four years (Kayla Lund – 2020 and Courtney Buzzerio – 2022).

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS

• For the second straight year, the Panthers have secured a share of the ACC Championship, going 16-2 in conference play.

• Pitt beat two top-10 opponents in Georgia Tech and Louisville in the final four matches of the ACC slate.

ALL-ACC ACCOLADES

• A program record seven Panthers were named all-conference. 

• Rachel Fairbanks, Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford are First Team members while Chiamaka Nwokolo, Emma Monks, Valeria Vazquez Gomez and Emmy Klika earned Second Team honors.

• Rachel Fairbanks is the ACC Setter of the Year for the first time in her career while Olivia Babcock is the first Panther to be named ACC Freshman of the Year.

DANCING SHOES

• Pitt is competing in its eighth straight NCAA Tournament, coming off three…