PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Panthers (19-1, 9-1 ACC) hit the road to play Virginia (17-4, 7-3 ACC) and Virginia Tech (7-13, 1-9 ACC) on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., respectively.
Pitt holds a dominant lead in the overall series, 18-3, winning 11 straight matches against Virginia. The Panthers and the Cavaliers compete after Pitt defeated Virginia at the Fitzgerald Field House last season in three sets. Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford combined for 15 kills while Rachel Fairbanks dished out 20 assists.
The Panthers look to add to their 15-6 series lead on Sunday in Blacksburg. Last season, Stafford and Babcock combined for 19 kills, seven digs and five blocks to pace Pitt offensively.
MISS 1,000
• Valeria Vazquez Gomez is two kills away from recording her 1,000th career kill.
• She is also 50 digs away from reaching the 1,000 career digs mark.
• With the two kills and 50 digs, Vazquez Gomez will become the eighth player in program history to join the 1,000 kill + 1,000 dig club.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM
• Rachel Fairbanks earned a weekly conference honor (ACC Co-Setter of the Week) for the third time this season after two wins over No. 4 Louisville and Notre Dame.
• She averaged 10.33 assists per set, 2.00 digs per set, 0.33 aces per set and 0.33 blocks per set in two wins on the weekend.
• Fairbanks notched 46 assists, nine digs and two blocks in the five-set victory over No. 4 Louisville, setting the Panthers to a .262 hitting percentage.
• She concluded the weekend by recording a season-high 47 assists, nine digs, three aces and a block in the win over Notre Dame, setting Pitt to a .279 hitting percentage.
LUCK OF THE PANTHERS
• Pitt defeated Notre Dame in four sets on Sunday afternoon.
• Torrey Stafford recorded her second double-double of the weekend with a match-high 17 kills and season-high 14 digs.
• Rachel Fairbanks registered a season-high 47 assists on the day.
SILENCED THE CARDS
• Pitt defeated No. 4 Louisville for the third straight time on Friday night.
• The Panthers have outlasted the Cardinals in five sets in all three contests.
• Bre Kelley recorded her first career double-double with 12 kills and 10 blocks, hitting .500.
• Olivia Babcock…
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