PITTSBURGH – The No. 1-seeded Pitt women’s volleyball team swept No. 3-seeded Kentucky (25-22, 25-23, 25-17) on Saturday night in the Petersen Events Center to win its fourth straight Regional Final and advance to the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal. Olivia Babcock, who had a team-high 13 kills on .375 hitting, was named 2024 Pittsburgh Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player following the win.
Pitt (33-1, 19-1 ACC) and Kentucky (23-8, 14-2 SEC) were deadlocked at 10-10 in the first set before a block by Babcock and Bre Kelley and a subsequent kill by Babcock separated the Panthers. Pitt used a scathing 5-0 run to extend its lead to 19-13, spurred by two Valeria Vazquez Gomez kills. The Wildcats worked the set back to within one, at 23-22, before two emphatic Babcock kills sealed the set for Pitt, 25-22.
The Wildcats opened the second set with a crowd-silencing 5-0 start, forcing a Panthers timeout. Pitt responded with its own 5-1 spurt to bring the match within one at 6-5. Neither team separated until Kentucky used two kills on a 3-0 tilt to take a four-point lead at 17-13. The Wildcats extended their lead to 22-16 before Pitt went on a momentum-shifting 7-0 run behind the serve of Mallorie Meyer to retake the lead at 23-22. Pitt used a forced error and a Rachel Fairbanks ace to take set two 25-23.
Pitt and Kentucky once again were knotted at 10-10 in the third set before a 7-2 run from the Panthers gave the home team a 17-12 advantage. A kill from Babcock from a Fairbanks assist and a block by Kelley and Blaire Bayless extended Pitt’s lead to 20-15. The Panthers closed the match on a 5-1 run to take set three 25-17.
Following its fourth straight Regional Final win, the Panthers will travel to Louisville, Ky. to compete in the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal. Pitt will face the winner of No. 2-seeded Stanford and No. 1-seeded Louisville’s quarterfinal match on Dec. 19.
Notes
• Olivia Babcock was named the 2024 Pittsburgh Regional Tournament MVP for the second straight season.
• Rachel Fairbanks, Emmy Klika and Olivia Babcock were selected to the 2024 Pittsburgh Regional All-Tournament Team.
• Four different Panthers had at least six kills, as Stafford had six, Vazquez Gomez had seven, Kelley had eight and Babcock…
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