No. 1 Panthers to Host East Carolina and Marquette

PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Pitt volleyball team (7-0, 0-0 ACC) continues its home slate at the Fitzgerald Field House on Friday against East Carolina (7-1, 0-0 AAC) at 7 p.m. before playing Marquette (3-4, 0-0 Big East) on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

The Panthers and Pirates meet for the first time in program history. East Carolina advanced to the second round of the NIVC Tournament last season before falling to Georgia Southern.  

Pitt leads the overall series against Marquette, 7-6, most recently defeating the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee in the form of a sweep last season. Torrey Stafford registered her first career double-double in the win with 17 kills and 10 digs, hitting .516. 

SWEET SWEEP

• The Panthers swept No. 3 Penn State on Wednesday night in the Petersen Events Center in front of a record-breaking crowd (11,800). 

• Pitt’s 21 straight sets won is a program record.

• Torrey Stafford and Rachel Fairbanks shined, recording 17 kills and 42 assists, respectively.

• Freshman middle blocker Ryla Jones had a career-high seven kills on a .636 hitting percentage. 

• Senior libero Emmy Klika registered a season-high 15 digs.

DYNAMIC DUO

• Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock have impressed in their sophomore campaigns after earning All-American status as rookies.

• Stafford ranks among the top 15 in the nation in points per set (10th – 5.38) and kills per set (9th – 4.75) while Babcock ranks 8th nationally in points per set (5.45) and 34th in kills per set (4.20).

• Babcock or Stafford have either led or tied for the team high in kills in each match this season.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER AWARD

 • Olivia Babcock was recently named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career after her impressive week in California. 

• On the weekend, she averaged 6.17 points per set, 5.11 kills per set, 2.22 digs per set, 0.78 blocks per set and 0.67 aces per set on the weekend, hitting .347.

• This is the eighth conference weekly honor she has received after being named ACC Freshman of the Week six times last year.

WELL-OILED MACHINE

• Pitt ranks among the top five in the country for hitting percentage (2nd – .342), opponent hitting percentage (4th – .116), and aces per set (3rd – 2.43)

BATTLED…