No. 1 Panthers Reach Regional Final After Thrilling Win
The No. 1-seeded Pitt women‘s volleyball team secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over No. 4-seeded Oregon in the Regional Semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament, punching their ticket to their fifth consecutive Regional Final. Sparked by a career-high 31 kills from Olivia Babcock, including setting a Pitt NCAA Tournament record, the Panthers triumphed 25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12. With this win, Pitt (32-1, 19-1 ACC) remains undefeated in NCAA tournament play this season.
Olivia Babcock’s Historic Performance
Pitt’s victory was highlighted by Babcock’s standout performance, which not only propelled the team to victory but also etched her name in history with 31 kills. She opened the match with an early kill and block, helping the Panthers set the tone from the start. Babcock’s remarkable offensive play, complemented by Torrey Stafford’s 14 kills and 12 digs, kept Pitt ahead throughout the match. Stafford was a key contributor, recording a double-double and providing consistent support alongside Babcock.
Pitt’s setter Rachel Fairbanks also made her mark by dishing out a season-high 54 assists, surpassing 3,000 career assists. Her connection with Stafford was crucial in multiple key moments, particularly in the third set, where the two combined for multiple kills and helped Pitt gain momentum. Mallorie Meyer had a career-high three aces. Her previous high was two, which she had on 8/31/24 against Long Beach State.
Intense Back-and-Forth Sets
After dominating the first set 25-19, Pitt faced a tough challenge in the second set. Oregon (24-8, 14-6 Big Ten) fought back, taking the set 26-24 after a 6-0 run to clinch match point. However, the Panthers bounced back in set three, with Babcock and Stafford leading the charge to a 25-16 win. Oregon answered with a strong fourth-set performance, taking it 25-21.
In the decisive fifth set, Pitt came out strong with a 5-0 start, and despite Oregon’s comeback, Babcock’s clutch kills helped seal the match for the Panthers, taking the final set 15-12.
Looking Ahead: Regional Final
With the win, Pitt now prepares to face No. 11 Kentucky in the Regional Final on Saturday at 5 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN2. With a win, Pitt will advance to its fourth straight NCAA National Semifinal. The Panthers are aiming to continue their historic run and secure a spot in the final four of the NCAA Tournament.
