Pitt
4-1,0-0ACC
#15 Kentucky
1-3,0-0SEC
Panthers Sweep No. 15 Kentucky in 84 Lumber Classic Series
9/3/2023 4:05:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH –The No. 10 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (4-1, 0-0 ACC) defeated No. 15 Kentucky (1-3, 0-0 SEC) 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center in front of 3,867 people. Freshman Olivia Babcock led the way with 13 kills and seven blocks while hitting .458.
The Wildcats came out of the gates quickly and traded points back and forth with the Panthers until Pitt went on a mini run to bring the score to 12-9. A 6-3 Pitt run that included two kills from Rachel Fairbanks and three Kentucky errors extended the gap, 18-13. A balanced offense from Pitt in which five players registered at least two kills in the first set clinched the first set victory, 25-21.
Kentucky came out of the first set break on fire, as right side hitter Reagan Rutherford recorded four kills early propelling the Wildcats to a 9-4 lead. Kentucky would hold the advantage until Pitt battled back to even things up at 17-17. The Panthers held a 23-20 lead until Kentucky went on a 3-0 run on a Wildcat kill and two Pitt errors, forcing the Panthers to call a timeout. A few errors from Pitt and a dominant presence from Rutherford helped Kentucky clinch the set 27-25, the first of the 84 Lumber Classic.
Pitt immediately grabbed the momentum back and looked unstoppable, recording 17 kills, 13 digs and eight blocks in the 25-point set, hitting .500. Freshman Babcock continued to shine, killing five balls on five attempts leading the Panthers to a persuasive 25-13 third set victory.
Kentucky responded well, only allowing the Panthers a two-point lead early in the fourth, 9-7. A pair of kills from Babcock and graduate middle blocker Emma Monks gave the Panthers a 13-9 lead. Pitt would never lose their lead, ultimately taking the set, 25-22 and match, 3-1.
NOTES
• Freshmen Babcock and Torrey Stafford led the Panthers in kills with 13 while Babcock also guided the team with seven blocks, both a career high.
• Junior Rachel Fairbanks registered her first double-double of the season with 25 assists and 15 digs alongside seven kills and a pair of blocks.
• Monks nearly eclipsed a double-double with eight kills and seven blocks.
• Freshman setter Haiti Tautua'a recorded a career-high 17 assists in the match.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road this week as they take on No. 19 Marquette in Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 8 before playing Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 10.
