PITTSBURGH – The No. 7 Pitt volleyball team (18-3, 9-1 ACC) is home this weekend at the Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers will play Virginia Tech (12-9, 2-8 ACC) on Friday night at 7 p.m. before taking on Wake Forest (15-6, 6-4 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Seniors Lexis Akeo, Chiamaka Nwokolo, Cat Flood, Emma Monks and Logan Mosley will be honored on Sunday after the match.
The Panthers lead the series against Virginia Tech, 14-6 and have won the last eight matches. Pitt beat the Hokies last season in three sets in Blacksburg. Junior libero Emmy Klika recorded 13 digs in the match and Rachel Fairbanks and Lexis Akeo led the Panthers to a .327 hitting percentage.
Pitt dominates the all-time series against Wake Forest 11-1 and have won seven straight. The Panthers swept the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem last season. Valeria Vazquez Gomez registered eight kills and six blocks while Fairbanks added 23 assists, nine digs, six kills, two blocks and an ace.
GRITTY PANTHERS
• The Panthers are currently first in the nation in opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to an average of .128.
• The combination of Pitt’s block and backcourt defense has been tough to stop this season, and it has held 10 opponents to less than a .100 hitting percentage.
PANTHERS TAME PACK
• Pitt impressed last Friday night against NC State in a sweep.
• The Panthers registered 14 blocks in three sets and held the Wolfpack to a -.038 hitting percentage.
• Olivia Babcock had a match-high 13 kills and Monks recorded seven blocks.
PITT SWEEPS VIRGINIA
• Pitt dominated last Wednesday night against Virginia, sweeping them 3-0.
• Chiamaka Nwokolo and Rachel Fairbanks led the charge with a match-high 10 kills and 20 assists, respectively.
• Five Panthers registered at least five kills in the match, hitting .337 as a team.
DUAL THREAT
• Emma Monks and Chiamaka Nwokolo impress defensively, but they are currently top 15 in the nation in hitting efficiency.
• Nwokolo sits at seventh with a .448 clip while Monks is 14th with a .422 percentage.
BLOCK PARTY
• The Pitt Panthers are currently first in the nation in blocks per set (3.14).
• Chiamaka Nwokolo, Rachel Jepsen, Olivia Babcock and Emma Monks have all registered…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Pitt Panthers #H2P…