PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Pitt Panthers volleyball team (26-1, 16-1 ACC) downed Wake Forest (13-15, 5-12 ACC) in Varsity Arena in straight sets, 25-18, 25-14, 25-20 on Friday night. Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock combined for 37 kills while Nisa Buzlutepe notched 35 assists and eight digs in the victory.
Pitt and Wake Forest played tight for the majority of the first set, and the Panthers had to take a timeout with the score tied at 11-11. The two teams were tied once against at 15 a piece, but Wake Forest had to call a timeout as Pitt won three of the next four points behind a kill from Stafford and Vazquez Gomez. The Panthers continued to put pressure on the Demon Deacons and went on a 4-1 run out of the break causing Wake Forest to take its final timeout, down 17-22. Three unforced errors on the side of the Demon Deacons allowed Pitt to take the first set, 25-18.
The Panthers came out strong in the beginning of the second set and caused Wake Forest to take an early timeout, down 2-7. Two Demon Deacon errors and another kill from Stafford was too much for Wake to handle as it took its final timeout. Babcock continued to impress behind the service line and dialed up three straight aces to increase the Pitt lead to 14-3. The Demon Deacons tried to stop the bleeding, but Pitt’s efficient offense was too tough. The Panthers ultimately won the second set in dominant fashion, 25-14.
Pitt got out to a 4-1 start and held a 12-8 advantage, but a 5-1 run in favor of Wake Forest forced the Panthers to take a timeout. Babcock responded with three kills alongside a Vazquez Gomez point to earn an 18-16 lead, causing a Wake Forest timeout. Stafford and Bre Kelley teamed up on the offensive end for Pitt and helped force a second and final timeout for the Demon Deacons at 22-19. A kill from Babcock and an ace a piece from Vazquez Gomez and Cat Flood secured the set win, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
NOTES
– Torrey Stafford recorded a double-double in the match with 16 kills, 10 digs, three blocks, three assists and an ace
– Ryla Jones recorded a match-high six blocks
– Olivia Babcock has notched at least three aces in nine matches this season
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