Pitt
11-2,2-0ACC
North Carolina
7-4,1-1ACC
Pitt Sweeps North Carolina for 2-0 ACC Start
9/24/2023 4:10:00 PM | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 8 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (11-2, 2-0 ACC) looked solid once again on Sunday afternoon, sweeping North Carolina (7-4, 1-1 ACC). This marks the fifth straight sweep for the Panthers. Freshman Torrey Stafford led the team with 16 kills and seven digs.
Pitt got out to an early 5-1 lead in the first set, as Stafford recorded three kills early. North Carolina came back to make things interesting as both teams were tied at 9-9. Olivia Babcock came alive in the middle of the set, killing a handful of balls alongside Stafford, but a small run from the Tar Heels put them up 17-14. An 11-5 run from the Panthers secured the first set win, 25-22. Stafford put away five balls in the first set, hitting .625.
The Panthers ran with the momentum from the first set win, getting out to an early 10-6 lead in set two. Rachel Fairbanks picked things up and went on a 4-0 run to extend the lead to 16-8 behind two North Carolina errors and a pair of kills from Valeria Vazquez Gomez, who hit .750 in the set. A handful of mini runs from the Tar Heels brought them within three at 20-17, but a successful challenge from Pitt propelled the team to a 5-0 run to clinch the second set, 25-17. A Babcock service run forced four North Carolina attack errors during that stretch.
Vazquez Gomez continued to put pressure on the North Carolina passers to start set three, helping the Panthers get off to a 4-1 early lead. A surge from North Carolina's offense tied the Panthers, 14-14. Stafford stepped up late in the second at 17-17, going on a 7-0 service run, including three combined kills from Vazquez Gomez and Chiamaka Nwokolo and a handful of Tar Heel errors. After two quick points from North Carolina, Pitt called a timeout, and one point later Stafford put away the final kill for a 25-19 set win and 3-0 sweep.
NOTES
- Nwokolo tied a career high with eight blocks
- Rachel Fairbanks had a match-high 31 assists along with four digs
- Vazquez Gomez recorded nine kills on 12 swings, hitting .750
UP NEXT
The No. 8 Panthers are home next week at the Fitzgerald Field House for the ACC home opener. Pitt will play Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. and Syracuse on Sunday at 1 p.m.
