Pitt
22-4,13-2ACC
#8 Georgia Tech
21-4,12-3ACC
Pitt Dominates, Sweeps No. 8 Georgia Tech
11/10/2023 8:54:00 PM | Volleyball
ATLANTA, GA –The No. 7 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (22-4, 13-2 ACC) came out on top against No. 8 Georgia Tech (21-4, 12-3 ACC) at the O'Keefe Gym on Friday night. Olivia Babcock recorded a match-high 15 kills on a career-high .652 hitting percentage, and the team hit .440 on the night.
Pitt came out firing at the beginning of set one, getting out to a 7-0 lead and forced a Georgia Tech timeout. Valeria Vazquez Gomez was lethal behind the service line and continued her dominance, going on a 10-0 run until the Yellow Jackets registered their first kill of the set. Shortly after, Georgia Tech's Bianca Bertolino came to life offensively, forcing Pitt to take its first timeout, up 12-7. An 8-4 run behind a kill from Babcock, Chiamaka Nwokolo, Emma Monks and Vazquez Gomez forced Georgia Tech to take its final timeout as the Panthers led 20-11. Vazquez Gomez continued to string points together behind her serve and allowed Pitt to take the first set, 25-13 as the Panthers never trailed.
Georgia Tech began set two a bit quicker as both teams were tied early, 4-4. Babcock's serve gave the Yellow Jackets problems as she notched back-to-back aces and caused a Georgia Tech service error to go up 8-4. Neither team called a timeout early as Pitt went up 15-8 at the media timeout. Another Yellow Jacket attack error forced Georgia Tech to take a timeout, down 8-16. Pitt continued to put the pressure on, disabling the Yellow Jackets from going on any runs and eventually secured the set two victory, 25-14. Babcock had six kills on a .667 hitting percentage while Rachel Fairbanks set the Panthers to a .524 clip.
Like set two, both teams went point for point early until Georgia Tech gained some momentum, going up 11-6. A 5-2 run for the Panthers forced the Yellow Jackets to take their first timeout, up 13-11. Georgia Tech would eventually go up 16-13 until sophomore Dillyn Griffin went on a 7-0 run behind two aces to allow the Panthers to take the 21-16 lead. A kill from Monks, Stafford and Babcock sealed the third set victory, 25-19 and three set sweep.
NOTES
- Olivia Babcock hit a career-high .652 on the night
- Emma Monks recorded six kills on six swings
- Torrey Stafford notched 10 kills, hitting .364
- Rachel Fairbanks registered 33 assists, eight digs, two kills and a block
UP NEXT
The No. 7 Panthers host No. 5 Louisville next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center. The match will be available on ACCNX.
