Panthers Set for NCAA Regional Semifinal Versus Minnesota

OMAHA, Neb. – After winning two matches in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, the Pitt volleyball team (18-4, 14-4 ACC) will take on No. 3 seed Minnesota (16-2, 15-2 Big Ten) Sunday in the Round of 16 at 1 p.m. ET at CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Pitt's first round match will be streamed on ESPN3 at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
Live stats will be available at Stabroadcast.com.
Fans can follow @Pitt_VB on Twitter and Instagram for live updates during both matches.

WHAT'S ON THE LINE

The winner of Sunday's match will advance to the Regional Final to face the winner between No. 11 seed Louisville and No. 6 seed Washington noon Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena in Omaha, Neb.

A WIN WOULD…

Mark the first time in program history that the Panthers advance to the NCAA Regional Final. Pitt holds a 9-15 all-time record when playing in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Pitt and Minnesota are two of 48 teams that have competed in the 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. Thirty conferences were awarded an automatic qualification, while the remaining 18 positions were filled with at-large selections to complete the bracket.
The Panthers qualified for their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance following an at-large bid as announced during the 2020 Selection Show Sunday, April 4.
Minnesota was named the No. 3 seed after receiving an at-large selection out of the Big Ten.

LAST TIME OUT

NCAA FIRST ROUND, Pitt 3, LIU 0 (April 14): For the fifth consecutive season, Pitt advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, this time with a sweep of LIU (9-6, 8-4 NEC) late Wednesday night at the CHI Health Center Omaha. The win marked the eighth time in program history that the Panthers advanced to the second round of the tournament. Pitt swept the Sharks out of the tournament by scores of 26-24, 25-11, 25-10.
NCAA SECOND ROUND, Pitt 3, No. 14 seed Utah 0 (April 15): For the first time in program history, the Pitt won a second match in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Regional Semifinal with a sweep of 14-seed Utah (13-5, 13-4 PAC-12) Thursday night at CHI Health Center Omaha. The Panthers defeated the Utes by scores of 25-16, 25-18, 25-19. Pitt hit .369 for the night while holding Utah to a .203 clip. The Panthers had the advantage across the board, in kills (49-41), assists (47-37), service aces (5-0), digs (56-46) and blocks (10.0-5.0).

MILESTONE WATCH

Right side hitter Chinaza Ndee is nearing her 1,000th kill, with 979 so far for her career. She would become Pitt's 18th member of the 1,000 Kill Club. She would be the second active Panther in the club, alongside co-captain outside hitter Kayla Lund.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

The Golden Gophers (16-2, 15-2 Big Ten) received the No. 3 seed with an at-large bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. Minnesota advanced to the Regional Semifinal following a sweep of Georgia Tech (25-19, 25-21, 25-18) in the Second Round Thursday.
Minnesota's two losses on the season came at Nebraska, 3-0 (Feb. 21) and at home against Wisconsin, 3-1 (March 21). The Golden Gophers have won five consecutive matches since the loss against the Badgers.
The 2020-21 season marks the 25th year the Golden Gophers have advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament six consecutive seasons and eight under ninth-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Minnesota has had a top 10 seed the past six seasons.
Senior opposite hitter Stephanie Samedy lead the Gophers with 4.12 kills per set. Regan Pittman, a 6-foot-5 redshirt senior middle blocker, averages 1.42 blocks per frame.

2020 NCAA TOURNAMENT

The 48 teams participating in the championship will travel to Omaha, Neb., where all rounds of the tournament will be played April 14-24 at the CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena, hosted by the University of Nebraska and MECA.
The top 16 teams were seeded nationally and received a first-round bye for this year's 48-team bracket. Teams from the same conference were not paired during first- and second-round competition.
First- and second-round matches will be played April 14 and 15, and regional semifinals will be played April 18, at the convention center. Regional finals will take place on April 19 at the arena.
The regional winners will advance to the national semifinals and championship final hosted on April 22 and 24 at the CHI Health Center Omaha arena. The national semifinal matches and championship match will broadcast on ESPN2. All matches will be streamed on various ESPN networks.

UP NEXT

The winner of Sunday's match will advance to the Regional Final to face the winner between No. 11 seed Louisville and No. 6 seed Washington noon Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena in Omaha, Neb.

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