Pitt Volleyball Gears Up for Final Four Showdown
The Pitt Panthers volleyball team is heading to the Final Four yet again, solidifying their status as one of the nation’s elite programs. With another stellar 2024 season, the Panthers are eyeing their first-ever national championship and a chance to make history.
A Dynasty in the Making
Pitt has reached the Final Four four times since 2021, making it the longest active NCAA Division I volleyball streak. They’ve done this as top seeds three times and even as a No. 2 seed, overcoming monumental challenges like taking down defending champion Wisconsin in 2022. Yet the Panthers remain hungry, chasing the elusive national title trophy.
This year, veteran leadership is key. The Panthers boast four players making their fourth Final Four appearance: Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Cat Flood, Rachel Fairbanks, and Emmy Klika.
A Star-Studded Squad
Fairbanks, a senior setter and two-time AVCA First-Team All-American has been a revelation this season. Fairbanks has evolved into a clutch performer, leading the nation with a career-best 10.56 assists per set and spearheading Pitt’s.332 hitting percentage—the top in the country.
“As a player, I’ve grown so much,” Fairbanks shared. “We’ve learned to embrace the pressure because pressure is a privilege. We’re ready for the challenge.”
Backing up Pitt’s veterans are two sensational sophomores: Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford. Babcock, the ACC Player of the Year and an AVCA Player of the Year finalist, has been unstoppable alongside Stafford, earning First-Team All-American honors.
Reflecting on last season’s semifinal loss to Nebraska, Babcock said, “Last year, it was overwhelming, but now we’re focused. We’ve learned to block out the noise and stay locked in.”
A Season of Dominance
With a 33-1 record and a sixth ACC championship, Pitt has been nearly unstoppable. They spent the final 12 weeks of the regular season atop the AVCA Coaches Poll and racked up 11 ranked wins.
The Panthers earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, showcasing their prowess by sweeping Morehead State and Oklahoma. A hard-fought five-set victory over Oregon and a dominant sweep of Kentucky secured Pitt’s ticket to the Final Four for the third consecutive year.
The Rivalry Renewed
Awaiting Pitt in the semifinals is a familiar foe: the Louisville Cardinals, their fiercest rival. The two teams will face off at the KFC Yum! Centre in Louisville, Kentucky—a venue where Pitt recently triumphed in a critical ACC matchup.
Pitt and Louisville have clashed nine times in the past three seasons, with the Cardinals taking five of the first six matches, including a 2022 Final Four thriller. However, Pitt turned the tide, winning four of the last five, including a pivotal win on Louisville’s home court to clinch the ACC crown this year.
Fairbanks acknowledged the respect between the two programs. “We’re lucky to face them so often. They make us better, and we make them better. It’s the perfect preparation for moments like this.”
Locked In and Ready
Head Coach Dan Fisher, also making his fourth Final Four appearance, is laser-focused on the task ahead. “Our mindset is to peak at the right time,” Fisher said. “It’s about channeling our energy into these crucial moments.”
Facing Louisville, Fisher knows what’s at stake: “Both teams love to compete. This rivalry brings out the best in us. It’s never over until it’s truly over.”
The showdown is set for December 19 at 6:30 PM, live on ESPN2. With the stakes higher than ever, Pitt is determined to turn their Final Four streak into championship glory.
Will this be the year the Panthers claim their first national title?
Stay tuned—this one’s going to be epic.
