PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 Panthers (21-1, 11-1 ACC) continue their ACC season as they host No. 25 North Carolina (18-3, 10-2 ACC) and Duke (9-14, 5-7 ACC) this weekend at the Fitzgerald Field House. Pitt plays the Tar Heels on Friday at 6 p.m. and wraps up the weekend against Duke on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Panthers lead the overall series 16-6 against the Tar Heels and most recently earned the win last season in Carmichael Arena. Torrey Stafford recorded 16 kills, four digs and two blocks in the sweep while Rachel Fairbanks dished 31 assists and added four digs and four blocks. The Panthers hit an efficient .312 and held North Carolina to a team .111 hitting percentage.
Pitt also owns the series lead over Duke, 15-8 and has won seven straight matches. Stafford once again hit an efficient .333 while adding 15 kills, six digs and two assists in the sweep over the Blue Devils last year in Durham.
WELL-OILED MACHINE
• Pitt ranks among the top 15 in the country for hitting percentage (1st – .332), opponent hitting percentage (1st – .112), aces per set (7th – 2.07), blocks per set (9th – 2.83), kills per set (14th – 13.99) and assists per set (125h -13.13).
HOUSED THE HOKIES
• Pitt defeated Virginia Tech on Sunday in three sets in Blacksburg.
• Olivia Babcock recorded a match-high 18 kills, hitting .341.
• Nisa Buzlutepe notched her first double-double of the season with 31 assists and ten digs. This marked the second of her career.
• Blaire Bayless tied her career high with eight kills.
BROOMS COME OUT
• Pitt downed Virginia in the form of a sweep on Friday Night.
• Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford notched 11 kills a piece, both hitting .375 or higher.
• The Panthers dominated in the first set with the greatest point differential of the season as Pitt held a 21-2 advantage. An 8-0 service run from Valeria Vazquez Gomez, a 10-0 service run and three consecutive aces from Olivia Babcock powered Pitt’s dominance.
• Emmy Klika had a match-high 13 digs and assisted on five kills.
MISS 1,000
• Valeria Vazquez Gomez recently became the 19th player in program history to reach the 1,000 kills mark in the sweep over Virginia.
• She is also 45 digs away from reaching the 1,000 career digs mark.
• With the 45…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Pitt Panthers #H2P…