Pitt Closes Out Ellesyn Invitational With Sweep Over UTRGV

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (2-1, 0-0 ACC) continued its impressive offense against UTRGV (1-2, 0-0 WAC), 3-0 on Sunday morning. The team hit a cumulative .359 with six players hitting above .250. 

The Panthers and Vaqueros traded points the first half of the first set until Pitt went on a six-point run to push the score to 17-12. A pair of kills from Rachel Fairbanks and a kill from Rachel Jepsen, Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock were instrumental in gaining momentum. A short run from UTRGV brought things to 19-17 before the Panthers earned six of the following eight points to secure the first set win. 

Pitt never trailed in set two, as the team hit an incredibly efficient .462. Valeria Vazquez Gomez recorded five kills while freshmen Babcock and Stafford smashed four balls. The Panther offense disrupted UTRGV as Pitt got off to an 8-3 early lead behind a kill and ace from Bre Kelley. The Vaqueros attempted to tie things up, but the Panthers continued to apply pressure. Another three kills from Vazquez Gomez and 6-3 run at the end of the set lead Pitt to a 25-18 win.

Unlike set two, the Vaqueros stuck with Pitt at the beginning of the third set, eventually holding a 12-11 lead after a 5-0 service run from Luanna Emiliano. The Panther responded well as a Bre Kelley kill from Rachel Fairbanks tied things up. Both teams exchanged points once against until the score was knotted at 15 all. Pitt dominated from there on out, finishing set three on a 10-1 run. Seven of the ten points were behind the strong serving of Stafford. A pair of Vazquez Gomez kills and four UTRGV hitting errors was enough to clinch the 3-0 sweep for the Panthers.

Notes

•    Freshman Torrey Stafford led the team in kills, registering 10 and added four digs, two blocks and a pair of assists

•    Valeria Vazquez Gomez nearly registered a double-double, adding nine kills and eight digs, hitting .538.

•    Rachel Fairbanks led the way with 20 assists and recorded three digs, kills and blocks 

UP NEXT

The Panthers return on Friday, Sept. 1 in Lexington, Kentucky as they face No. 10 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on SEC Network. 

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