PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Pitt Panthers volleyball team (25-1, 15-1 ACC) earned its 22nd sweep of the season against Miami (18-9, 9-7 ACC) on Sunday afternoon, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18. Olivia Babcock recorded 20 kills, five aces, three digs and three blocks, hitting .531. With her third ace of the day, Babcock became the program record holder for single season aces in the 25 point scoring era. Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Rachel Fairbanks, Emmy Klika, Cat Flood and Nisa Buzlutepe were honored on senior day for their incredible careers at Pitt.
The Panthers and Hurricanes played tight for the beginning of set one until Pitt got out to a 12-7 lead. Three kills from Babcock and a pair from Torrey Stafford and Bre Kelley extended Pitt’s advantage to 18-10. Miami attempted to go on a run but was unable to bridge the gap. A kill from Kelley and an attack error on the side of the Hurricanes was enough for Pitt to win the first set, 25-19. Pitt hit .720 as a team, and Babcock recorded nine kills, hitting .900.
Pitt began the second set well and was able to hold a 7-4 advantage, forcing Miami to take an early timeout. Six Pitt kills and tough serving extended the Panther’s lead to 17-11. The Hurricanes needed their second and final timeout. Babcock recorded an ace the following point, and a combination of kills from Babcock and Vazquez Gomez propelled the Panthers to win the second set, 25-18.
Miami came out of the break with a new found momentum and had a 5-1 lead. A kill from Bre Kelley and four straight serves from Vazquez Gomez brought Pitt within one at 5-6.The Panthers won five of the next six points, including a kill from Ryla Jones, Stafford and two aces from Babcock. Miami needed a timeout as Pitt was up 10-7. Similar to the first two sets, Miami fought and tried to claw its way back in the match, but the suffocating Pitt offense was too much to handle. The Panthers won the third set, 25-18 and the match, 3-0.
NOTES
– Rachel Fairbanks notched a double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs
– Bre Kelley recorded nine kills, hitting a career-high .750
– Pitt hit .409 on the day, marking the third time in four matches that the Panthers have hit above .400
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