Pitt
14-2,5-0ACC
#11 Georgia Tech
13-2,4-1ACC
Panthers Complete Reverse Sweep Against No. 11 Georgia Tech
10/6/2023 11:31:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH –The No. 7 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (14-2, 5-0 ACC) came back from down 0-2 to complete the reverse sweep against No. 11 Georgia Tech (13-2, 4-1 ACC) on Friday night at the Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers were led by freshman Olivia Babcock who recorded a career-high 19 kills.
The Panthers started set one off strong, getting out to an early 12-6 lead, forcing Georgia Tech to take their first timeout. After a mini run and four Yellow Jacket kills, Georgia Tech returned the favor and forced Pitt to take a timeout with the Panthers narrowly leading 13-12. Both teams battled going back and forth until Pitt held the 22-19 lead thanks to multiple Babcock kills. Georgia Tech would not let up though, going on a 6-1 run to clinch the first set, 25-23.
Once again, the beginning of the second set was close as Babcock and Fairbanks both were dangerous from the service line, leading the Panthers into the media timeout up 15-13. Multiple Panthers including Babcock, Emma Monks and Chiamaka Nwokolo would push the Yellow Jackets to take a timeout. After a point, the Panthers called another timeout, up 21-20. Georgia Tech would win four of the next six points to force Pitt to use their final timeout, down 23-24. A Bianca Bertolino ace secured the second set victory for the Yellow Jackets, 25-23 once again. Babcock paced the Panthers with seven kills during the set, hitting .364.
Neither team could go on a run early in the third set until an Emmy Klika ace and kills from Babcock and Monks gave the Panthers the lead at 11-7, when Georgia Tech used their first timeout. A 5-0 service run from Monks gave Pitt even more cushion and caused the Yellow Jackets to use their final timeout with Pitt up 17-8. An efficient side out percentage from Pitt for the rest of the set allowed the Panthers to take the third set, 25-17.
Set four was even more dominant for the Panthers, as Rachel Fairbanks went on a 6-0 run to open the set. Georgia Tech called their first timeout, but Pitt continued to bring the pressure, clicking on all cylinders offensively to extend the lead to 11-3. Georgia Tech called their final timeout and would bring the score within five at 15-10, but a balanced Pitt offense would bring the Panthers the fourth set win, 25-15. Six Panthers registered a kill in the set while holding the Yellow Jackets to a -.125 hitting percentage.
The Panthers and Yellow Jackets battled in set five, with both teams tied at 5-5. Torrey Stafford went on a 3-0 run to give the Panthers an 8-5 lead as they switched sides. A 7-3 run and the strong serving of Logan Mosley would be too much for Georgia Tech to overcome, as the Panthers won the set 15-8 and match 3-2.
NOTES
- Olivia Babcock recorded a career-high 19 kills, hitting .368 along with six blocks, three aces and five digs
- Emmy Klika registered a match-high 18 digs along with three assists and an ace
- Rachel Fairbanks was one assist shy of tying a career high with 42 assists, eight digs, five kills and two aces
- Emma Monks and Chiamaka Nwokolo both eclipsed double digit kills for the first time this season with 11 and 10, respectively.
UP NEXT
The No. 7 Panthers return to the Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, taking on Clemson at 1 p.m. The match will be available on ACCNX.
