University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Athletics 2018 Highlights
12/31/2018 10:59:00 AM | General
As 2018 comes to a close, Pitt Athletics takes a look back at some of the top highlights throughout the year.
A Historic Season for Volleyball
Pitt earned its second consecutive ACC Championship title with a program-best 17-1 conference record. The Panthers made their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, earning a No. 12 seed. For the first time in program history, Pitt hosted the First and Second Rounds at Petersen Events Center. The 2018 season marks the Panthers' highest single season winning percentage in program history (.938, 30-2), and their 30 wins are the most in a season since 1990 (32-6). Pitt finished the year ranked No. 14 in the final AVCA Coaches' Poll.
Four Panthers earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors, the most for Pitt volleyball in a single season. Junior right side Nika Markovic was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team, becoming the first Panther since 2009 to earn the recognition. Sophomore outside Kayla Lund, junior middle Layne Van Buskirk and redshirt junior outside Stephanie Williams each earned an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Williams made her third consecutive appearance as an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention (2016, 2017), becoming the first Panther in program history to do so. The honors are the first for Lund and Van Buskirk.
Football Captures Coastal Division Title
The Panthers dynamic rushing duo of Qadree Ollison (1,190 yards, 11 TDs) and Darrin Hall (1,021 yards, 9 TDs) helped guide Pitt to a 6-2 mark in ACC play, the program's first Coastal Division title and an appearance in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Ollison and Hall became the first duo to each rush for 1,000 yards in the season in the storied history of Pitt Football.
2018 Highlights
Softball Wins Coastal
Pitt was crowned ACC Coastal Division Champions and reached the ACC Softball Championship game for the second time in four years. The Panthers posted seven ACC series wins and also snapped Florida State's 36-game conference win streak with a dramatic 1-0 extra innings win in Tallahassee. Giorgiana Zeremenko (1st), Kayla Harris (2nd) and Kaitlyn Kruger (3rd) received NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Regional accolades, while Olivia Gray (1st), Zeremenko (1st) and Harris (2nd) were All-ACC honorees.
Garland Captures ACC Indoor Championship
Desiree Garland was crowned Pitt's first female ACC track and field champion, winning the indoor 400m of the ACC Indoor Championships. Earned First Team All-ACC honors, becoming the first female in Pitt history to earn first team honors. She was the fourth Panther in program history to win an indoor ACC title.
Teams and Individuals Qualify for NCAAs
Teams (2):
Individuals (44):
Pitt Athletics Adds Women's Lacrosse for 2021-22
Athletic Director Heather Lyke announced the addition of women's lacrosse as a varsity sport Nov. 1. The program will play its inaugural season against NCAA Division I competition in the 2021-22 academic year. Pitt will be the ninth Atlantic Coast Conference institution to sponsor the sport at the NCAA Division I level. The program will be fully funded with the NCAA maximum of 12 scholarships and play its games at the Petersen Sports Complex.
Celebrated the Inaugural Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class
Pitt announced its inaugural 16-member class of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame in May of 2018 and honored the group with a ceremony and halftime presentation the weekend of the Penn State football game. The group is composed of Olympians, national champions, Super Bowl winners, world-record setters and legendary figures whose names and achievements resonate well beyond Pitt. There were 12 living honorees and four posthumous inductees.
Five Head Coaches Hired
#ZooEra begins with the introduction of Jeff Capel as the head coach of the Pitt Men's Basketball Program March 28, 2018.
Pitt reshaped the makeup of its athletic department with the hiring of new head coaches in baseball (Mike Bell), women's basketball (Lance White), cross country (Brad Herbster), softball (Jodi Hermanek).
Pitt Studios Opened its Doors
In preparation for the 2019 launch of ESPN's ACC Network, Pitt Athletics official opened Pitt Studios in October with the help of a unique partnership with Pittsburgh-based NEP, the world's largest outsourced production partner supporting premier content producers of live sports, entertainment, music and corporate events. The 6,000 square foot broadcast facility houses three redundant broadcast control rooms, multiple editing suites, and a showpiece broadcast studio in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center. The broadcast hub is connected via fiber to the Petersen Sports Complex, Fitzgerald Field House and Trees Pool, and will be responsible for over 100 sports broadcasts per year to support the launch of the ACC Network.
Teams Receive Retro Alternate Uniforms for 2018-19
Oct. 1, 2018, Pitt Athletics announced its first of three Retro Weekends throughout the 2018-19 academic year. The first weekend, which was held Oct. 5-7, was in conjunction with the University's Homecoming festivities and included retro alternate uniforms worn by football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, as well as men's and women's basketball teams at Courtside at the Cathedral.
The four teams kicked off what will be a feature for all 19 varsity sports, as each team will receive an alternate retro uniform for select contests throughout the 2018-19 season. Dates for the winter and spring weekends will be announced at a later date.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
A Historic Season for Volleyball
Pitt earned its second consecutive ACC Championship title with a program-best 17-1 conference record. The Panthers made their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, earning a No. 12 seed. For the first time in program history, Pitt hosted the First and Second Rounds at Petersen Events Center. The 2018 season marks the Panthers' highest single season winning percentage in program history (.938, 30-2), and their 30 wins are the most in a season since 1990 (32-6). Pitt finished the year ranked No. 14 in the final AVCA Coaches' Poll.
Head coach Dan Fisher was dubbed ACC and AVCA East Region Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.Oh, what a night.??
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) November 26, 2018
??: https://t.co/VObskhWUFg @NCAAVolleyball#OwnIt • #H2P pic.twitter.com/47SdYOuKB1
Four Panthers earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors, the most for Pitt volleyball in a single season. Junior right side Nika Markovic was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team, becoming the first Panther since 2009 to earn the recognition. Sophomore outside Kayla Lund, junior middle Layne Van Buskirk and redshirt junior outside Stephanie Williams each earned an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Williams made her third consecutive appearance as an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention (2016, 2017), becoming the first Panther in program history to do so. The honors are the first for Lund and Van Buskirk.
Football Captures Coastal Division Title
The Panthers dynamic rushing duo of Qadree Ollison (1,190 yards, 11 TDs) and Darrin Hall (1,021 yards, 9 TDs) helped guide Pitt to a 6-2 mark in ACC play, the program's first Coastal Division title and an appearance in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Ollison and Hall became the first duo to each rush for 1,000 yards in the season in the storied history of Pitt Football.
2018 Highlights
- Pitt played an NCAA high 12 bowl-eligible teams (including Sun Bowl opponent Stanford)
- Ollison joined Tony Dorsett, Curvin Richards, LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis and James Conner as Pitt running backs to post two or more 1,000-yard seasons
- Ollison and Hall combined for seven 100-yard rushing games
- Ollison set a school record with a 97-yard touchdown run against Virginia Tech (11/10/18) … Pitt set a school record with 654 yards of total offense in the win over the Hokies
- Ollison (2nd), Stefano Millin (2nd), Darrin Hall (3rd), Mike Herndon (3rd), Alex Kessman (3rd) and Jimmy Morrissey (3rd) earned All-ACC honors
Softball Wins Coastal
Pitt was crowned ACC Coastal Division Champions and reached the ACC Softball Championship game for the second time in four years. The Panthers posted seven ACC series wins and also snapped Florida State's 36-game conference win streak with a dramatic 1-0 extra innings win in Tallahassee. Giorgiana Zeremenko (1st), Kayla Harris (2nd) and Kaitlyn Kruger (3rd) received NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Regional accolades, while Olivia Gray (1st), Zeremenko (1st) and Harris (2nd) were All-ACC honorees.
Garland Captures ACC Indoor Championship
Desiree Garland was crowned Pitt's first female ACC track and field champion, winning the indoor 400m of the ACC Indoor Championships. Earned First Team All-ACC honors, becoming the first female in Pitt history to earn first team honors. She was the fourth Panther in program history to win an indoor ACC title.
Teams and Individuals Qualify for NCAAs
Teams (2):
- Gymnastics – Regional
- Volleyball – Regional
Individuals (44):
- Outdoor Track and Field (16)
- Taylor Middleton – Long Jump and Triple Jump
- Andin Fosam – Hammer Throw
- Desiree Garland – 400m
- Miranda Salvo – 1500m
- Kelly Hayes – 5000m
- Laila Ismail – 400m hurdles
- Morgan Harvey – 400m hurdles
- Rebecca Peters – 5000m
- 4x400m Relay Team – Morgan Harvey, Breanna Phillips, Laila Ismail, Desiree Garland
- Noah Walker – Javelin
- Greg Lauray – High Jump
- Grant Jones – Javelin
- Ade Jones-Roundtree – 200m and 400m
- Billy Caldwell – 3000m Steeplechase
- Jabari Michael-Khensu – 200m
- 4x400m Relay Team – Dante' Watson, Jabari Michael-Khensu, Ade Jones-Roundtree, Lonzell Feagin
- Cross Country (20)
- Sam Shields
??TICKET PUNCHED??
— Pitt TF/XC (@Pitt_TF_XC) November 10, 2018
??: https://t.co/yBdAGUVneO#NCAAXC • #H2P pic.twitter.com/ZEZxSCuJua- Junior Sam Shields became just the third Panther in program history to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships after posting a 10th place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet and All-Region honors. Shields' 10th place finish marked the highest finish by a Pitt runner since 2016. Shields finished the NCAA Championships with a 122nd place finish, third highest finish in school history.
- Devon Hoernlein
- Caelan Miller
- Ally Brunton
- Emily Burd
- Mikaela Vlasic
- Natalie Hilton
- Erin Keelan
- Erin O'Connell
- Miranda Salvo
- Gillian Schriever
- Makenzie Zeh
- Evan Addison
- Tyler Rollins
- Brian Spolarich
- Josh Higgins
- Zach Lefever
- Jackson Morton
- Nick Wolk
- Matt McGoey
- Sam Shields
- Swimming and Diving (4)
1?? NCAA Championships Meet
— Pitt Swim & Dive (@Pitt_SWIM_DIVE) March 14, 2018
4?? Amazing Pitt Student-Athletes
9?? Chances to Earn All-America
?? It's Going Down in Columbus!
PREVIEW: https://t.co/j9wS4X3INV#H2P #H2oP #PullTogether pic.twitter.com/BjiUHbRt5x- Lina Rathsack
- Amanda Richey
- Lydia Rosenthall
- Meme Sharp
- Wrestling (4)
Never been so excited to go to Cleveland!??
— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) March 6, 2018
??: https://t.co/dQgeu02lC6
?????: https://t.co/Qjzze0kMcY#pinzburgh pic.twitter.com/BmLdRO0XpM- Dom Forys – 133 pounds
- Nick Zanetta – 141 pounds
- Taleb Rahmani – 157 pounds
- Ryan Solomon – 285 pounds
Pitt Athletics Adds Women's Lacrosse for 2021-22
Athletic Director Heather Lyke announced the addition of women's lacrosse as a varsity sport Nov. 1. The program will play its inaugural season against NCAA Division I competition in the 2021-22 academic year. Pitt will be the ninth Atlantic Coast Conference institution to sponsor the sport at the NCAA Division I level. The program will be fully funded with the NCAA maximum of 12 scholarships and play its games at the Petersen Sports Complex.
Coming in 2021-22...
— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) November 1, 2018
Pitt Women's Lacrosse
??: https://t.co/m32uH9yVIf#H2P pic.twitter.com/PrO3MC44U5
Celebrated the Inaugural Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class
Pitt announced its inaugural 16-member class of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame in May of 2018 and honored the group with a ceremony and halftime presentation the weekend of the Penn State football game. The group is composed of Olympians, national champions, Super Bowl winners, world-record setters and legendary figures whose names and achievements resonate well beyond Pitt. There were 12 living honorees and four posthumous inductees.
Listed in alphabetical order, these are the members of the inaugural Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class and their primary sport of distinction.The Inaugural Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class!#PittHOF #H2P pic.twitter.com/G3hLScy2wi
— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) September 9, 2018
- Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson (Athlete: Football, Basketball, Baseball; Coach: Basketball)
- Mike Ditka (Football)
- Tony Dorsett (Football)
- Herb Douglas (Track and Field)
- Bill Fralic (Football)
- Marshall Goldberg (Football)
- Hugh Green (Football)
- Trecia-Kaye Smith (Track and Field)
- Roger Kingdom (Track and Field)
- Billy Knight (Basketball)
- Dan Marino (Football)
- Lisa Shirk (Gymnastics)
- Charles Smith (Basketball)
- Kathy Stetler (Swimming)
- John Bain "Jock" Sutherland (Athlete: Football; Coach: Football)
- John Woodruff (Track and Field)
Five Head Coaches Hired
#ZooEra begins with the introduction of Jeff Capel as the head coach of the Pitt Men's Basketball Program March 28, 2018.
Pitt reshaped the makeup of its athletic department with the hiring of new head coaches in baseball (Mike Bell), women's basketball (Lance White), cross country (Brad Herbster), softball (Jodi Hermanek).
Let's do this, @Pitt_CoachWhite.#H2P pic.twitter.com/0XyWIs1hyS
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) April 21, 2018
Pitt Studios Opened its Doors
In preparation for the 2019 launch of ESPN's ACC Network, Pitt Athletics official opened Pitt Studios in October with the help of a unique partnership with Pittsburgh-based NEP, the world's largest outsourced production partner supporting premier content producers of live sports, entertainment, music and corporate events. The 6,000 square foot broadcast facility houses three redundant broadcast control rooms, multiple editing suites, and a showpiece broadcast studio in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center. The broadcast hub is connected via fiber to the Petersen Sports Complex, Fitzgerald Field House and Trees Pool, and will be responsible for over 100 sports broadcasts per year to support the launch of the ACC Network.
"We're going to give every student at the University of Pittsburgh the opportunity to live their dreams in broadcast journalism and film studies thanks to the curriculum we'll have a chance to do because of this incredible facility." -- Kevin Smith, Professor#H2P pic.twitter.com/IpfKag1RAd
— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) October 5, 2018
Teams Receive Retro Alternate Uniforms for 2018-19
Oct. 1, 2018, Pitt Athletics announced its first of three Retro Weekends throughout the 2018-19 academic year. The first weekend, which was held Oct. 5-7, was in conjunction with the University's Homecoming festivities and included retro alternate uniforms worn by football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, as well as men's and women's basketball teams at Courtside at the Cathedral.
#PittRetro Weekend coming soon??#H2P pic.twitter.com/yeINQzD49C
— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) October 1, 2018
The four teams kicked off what will be a feature for all 19 varsity sports, as each team will receive an alternate retro uniform for select contests throughout the 2018-19 season. Dates for the winter and spring weekends will be announced at a later date.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Monday, April 20
Monday, April 13
Monday, April 13
Sunday, April 12