Panthers Take on Syracuse in Final Conference Match

PITTSBURGH – The No. 3 Pitt volleyball team (24-4, 15-2 ACC) heads north to take on Syracuse (2-25, 0-17 ACC) in the final conference match of the season. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and is available on ACCNX.

This match marks the 58th time that Pitt and Syracuse have met, with the Panthers holding the 45-13 advantage. Most recently the Panthers swept Syracuse in Pittsburgh at the Fitzgerald Field House. Torrey Stafford led the charge with nine kills, 10 digs and four blocks, and Pitt hit a blistering .458 in the match. Pitt is coming off a dominant sweep over Miami and look to clinch at least a share of the ACC Championship with a win over Syracuse.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

• Pitt is coming off a dominant 3-0 sweep against Miami on Wednesday night.

• Olivia Babcock and Valeria Vazquez Gomez notched 15 and 12 kills, respectively, while Rachel Fairbanks dished out 33 assists. 

REVERSE, REVERSE

• The Panthers defeated Louisville on Saturday afternoon after dropping the first two sets. 

• Torrey Stafford, Olivia Babcock, Rachel Fairbanks and Valeria Vazquez Gomez all recorded double-doubles. 

• Pitt and Florida State are now tied for first in the ACC with one week of conference play left.

VOLLEYBALL TOWN

• 8,865 people watched Pitt reverse sweep Louisville on Saturday in the Petersen Events Center for an all-time attendance record. 

• This mark beats the previous program high of 5,195 set in 2019 in a home match against Penn State.

STAFFORD/FAIRBANKS SHINE

• Torrey Stafford showed out on Saturday against Louisville, recording a career-high 21 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the season.

• She hit .439 and was rewarded with her first ACC Offensive Player of the Week and third ACC Freshman of the Week honor.

• Rachel Fairbanks earned her fourth ACC Setter of the Week honor after recording a career-high 58 assists and 19 digs against Louisville.

BIG-TIME BABCOCK

• Freshman Olivia Babcock earned her first AVCA Player of the Week a few weeks ago, notching 15 kills on a .652 hitting percentage against then No. 8 Georgia Tech.

• This is first time a Panther has earned the award since Kayla Lund did so in 2021.

TOP 10 SMACKDOWN

• No. 7 Pitt dominated against then No. 8 Georgia Tech,…