Four Panthers Named AVCA All-Americans

PITTSBURGH – Four Panthers were named AVCA All-Americans on Wednesday, announced by the organization. Olivia Babcock, Rachel Fairbanks, Torrey Stafford and Bre Kelley were honored for their stellar play this season. 

Babcock was named a First Team All-American for the second time after notching ACC Player of the Year and East Coast Region Player of the Year honors for the first time in her career. In addition, she is one of four finalists for the highly coveted AVCA National Player of the Year award. She is first in the ACC in points per set (5.85), kills per set (4.59) and aces per set (0.65). Most recently, Babcock eclipsed 500 kills this season against Kentucky in the Regional Final. Her 31 kills in the Regional Semifinal against Oregon is a career high and the most for a Panther since 2007. She also added 12 digs and three blocks in the win. 

Fairbanks, the most decorated setter in program history, is a First Team All-American for the second consecutive season. The now three-time All-American was also named First Team All-ACC and an AVCA East Coast Region Team member. She is averaging a career-best 10.56 assists per set and leading Pitt to a team 0.332 hitting percentage, the best in the nation. Fairbanks eclipsed 3,000 assists in the win over Oregon in the Regional Semifinal, becoming the eighth player in program history to accomplish the feat.

Stafford has made a name for herself as one of the nation’s best outside hitters. She was named a First Team All-American for the first time after earning Third Team All-America honors in her freshman season. Stafford is a First Team All-ACC and AVCA East Coast Region performer for the second straight year and leads the nation in hitting percentage among Power Four outside hitters (0.359). She is fifth in the ACC in hitting percentage (.359), sixth in kills per set (3.67) and seventh in points per set (4.22).

Bre Kelley earned Second Team All-American honors for the first time after being named an AVCA East Coast All-Region Team member. She has impressed this season after a season ending injury last year. Kelley was named a First Team All-ACC player for the first time in her career and is currently fifth in the nation with 1.53 blocks per set and is hitting a blistering .506. She…