No. 1 Panthers Host Cal and No. 5 Stanford This Weekend

PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Pitt volleyball team (15-1, 5-1 ACC) welcome new ACC opponents Cal (10-8, 2-4 ACC) and No. 5 Stanford (14-2, 6-1 ACC) to the Fitzgerald Field House on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., respectively. Friday’s match will be on ACCNX while Sunday’s will be broadcast on ESPN. 

The Panthers and Golden Bears face off for only the second time in program history, having not competed since 1981 where Cal defeated Pitt in the best of three sets. Pitt and Stanford will play for the fifth time, as the Panthers seek their first win against The Cardinal in program history. The nine-time NCAA Champion advanced to the Regional Finals in 2023 after losing to eventual National Champion, Texas. 

THE SETTER SCENE

• Rachel Fairbanks and Kami Miner are the only returning AVCA First Team All-American setters from the 2023 season.

• The two have competed together in the USA volleyball scene and were both selected for the 2024 NORCECA Final Six roster.

COMPREHENSIVE EXCELLENCE

• The Pitt Panthers (4) and Stanford Cardinal (2) have combined for six Elite Eight appearances in the last four years.

• Pitt and Stanford play each other for the first time as conference foes and host the Cardinal for the first time since 1994.

SENSATIONAL STAFFORD

• Torrey Stafford is hitting .409 for the season, good for 22nd in the nation and first among outside hitters. 

• The next closest outside hitter is 76th in the nation and hitting .353.

KELLEY ON THE RISE

• Middle blocker Bre Kelley has recorded at least six blocks in the last five matches.

• Her nine blocks against Boston College are a season high and one off her career high. 

• She has hit at least .400 in eight of the last nine matches and is hitting .491 on the season.

SWEPT THE STANGS

• Pitt defeated SMU in straight sets last Wednesday behind 18 kills on a .571 hitting percentage from Olivia Babcock.

• She added a match-high four aces, seven digs and three blocks. 

• The Mustangs were held to a season low .109 hitting percentage and were aced 10 times, the most in a single match this season. 

• Rachel Fairbanks recorded a match-high 37 assists, setting Pitt to a blistering .427 hitting percentage. 

MR. 300

• Head Coach