Three Panthers Garner ACC Weekly Honors

PITTSBURGH – Three Panthers were named ACC Players of the Week, the conference announced Monday evening. Rachel Fairbanks notched her second ACC Setter of the Week honor of the season and sixth of her career, Olivia Babcock was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time, and Bre Kelley notched her first ACC Defensive Player of the Week award. The trio led the Panthers to two straight sweeps over Cal and No. 5 Stanford.

Fairbanks averaged 10.50 assists per set, 2.50 digs per set, 1.00 block per set and 1.00 ace per set over the weekend. She set the Panthers to a .430 hitting percentage against Cal, registering 28 assists, six digs, a season-high five aces and a season-high four blocks on Friday night. Pitt’s .430 opponent hitting percentage is the highest clip Cal has allowed this season. Fairbank set Pitt to a .314 hitting percentage against No. 5 Stanford in the sweep, notching 35 assists, nine digs, two blocks, two kills and an ace. Pitt’s .314 hitting percentage was the second highest clip a team has hit against Stanford this season. 

Babcock averaged 7.0 points per set, 5.5 kills per set, 1.83 blocks per set and 1.33 digs per set for the week. She notched a match-high 16 kills, hitting a season-high .577, five blocks, two aces and two digs in the match against Cal. Babcock recorded a match-high 17 kills, hitting .361 against No. 5 Stanford in the sweep and added six blocks, six digs and an ace.

After an impressive week, averaging 2.00 blocks per set, 1.67 kills per set and hitting .450, Kelley earned her first weekly award as a Panther. She notched six kills, five blocks and an assist against Cal, helping Pitt hold the Golden Bears to a season low -.048 hitting percentage. Kelley recorded a match-high seven blocks and added four kills, hitting .444 against No. 5 Stanford.

The No. 1 Panthers take on rival No. 4 Louisville in the Petersen Events Center on Friday night at 7 p.m. before playing Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Fitzgerald Field House. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.