No. 1 Pitt Takes on No. 3 Penn State in Rivalry Match Wednesday Night

PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Pitt volleyball team (6-0, 0-0 ACC) hosts in-state rival No. 3 Penn State (8-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center. The two programs have a storied history and will play in Pittsburgh for the first time in three years. This will mark the first time in program history Pitt and Penn State will play each other in a top five matchup. 

Penn State leads the all-time series 34-21, but Pitt has won two of the last three meetings. Most recently, the Panthers defeated the Nittany Lions in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021 at the Petersen Events Center, en route to their first ever Final Four appearance. Rachel Fairbanks registered a double-double in the win with 27 assists and 12 digs along with five kills and an ace.

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 (13th – 5.23) and kills per set (14th – 4.54) while Babcock ranks 8th nationally in points per set (5.38) and 50th in kills per set (4.06).

• 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 (3rd – .334), opponent hitting percentage (3rd – .103), and aces per set (3rd – 2.44)

BATTLED THE TROJANS, AND WON

• Pitt recorded its second top 25 win with a 3-0 sweep over then No. 23 USC in Los Angeles on Sept. 11. 

• California natives Torrey Stafford, Olivia Babcock and Rachel Fairbanks impressed in their hometown, as the sophomore pin hitters combined for 30 kills while Fairbanks recorded a season-high 38 assists.

• Freshman middle blocker…