Not the same old Pitt: ACC volleyball power Panthers winning with size, defense

PITTSBURGH — Around Pittsburgh, there’s a phrase often bandied about when one of the University of Pittsburgh’s sports teams — usually football or men’s basketball — is struggling … again.

Same old Pitt.

When applied to volleyball, however, “same old Pitt” carries an entirely different meaning. Since the Panthers moved their athletic programs to the ACC, coach Dan Fisher and his women’s team have been — by far — the university’s most successful team.

Under Fisher, now in his 10th season, Pitt has captured three ACC titles, been to the NCAA Tournament round of eight twice and, last year, made the program’s national semifinal. Over the past four seasons, the Panthers have won more matches (109) than any Division I women’s volleyball program in the country and have been as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll.

This season, Pitt again is among the nation’s best. The Panthers, No. 7 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, are 24-2 overall record, 14-0 in the ACC, and that includes a five-set win over then-No. 2 Louisville.

This past Sunday, the Panthers defeated Boston College in four for their 17th consecutive victory and program-record 15th straight on the road.

Same old Pitt, indeed.

Or is it?

In years past, the Panthers have built their success with offense, using an array of hitters who might have lacked height but more than made up for it with big hops and bigger arms. Think Amanda Orchard, Stephanie Williams, Chi Ndee and Kayla Lund.

The 2022 Panthers, however, are a new breed. Fisher’s rotation includes grad transfer Courtney Buzzerio (6-foot-5) and sophomore transfer Julianna Dalton (6-5) and holdovers Serena Gray (6-2), Sabrina Starks (6-2), Chia Nwokolo (6-1), Valeria Vazquez Gomez (6-1).

Even among the setters there is height. Rachel Fairbanks and Cam Ennis, who also has been used at outside hitter, both are 6-0.

“Not really intentional,” Fisher, who earned his 250th win at Pitt on Friday, said when asked about his team’s newfound size. “You always want to get bigger if they’re good enough. I just try to recruit the best players I can get, and it just worked out that way this year.

“ … The style, the set is a little slower, so we’ve had to make a few changes to our style of play a little bit. But whoever the best players are will play. But, all other things being equal, it’s nice to have size at the net.”

Said Buzzerio, a product of Chino Hills,…