Pitt
4-0,0-0ACC
#23 USC
3-2,0-0Big Ten
No. 1 Panthers Sweep No. 23 USC For Second Top 25 Win
9/12/2024 12:19:00 AM | Volleyball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 1 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (4-0, 0-0 ACC) won its first match of the California swing against No. 23 USC (3-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Wednesday evening. Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock combined for 30 kills while Rachel Fairbanks led the team with 38 assists and eight digs.
The Panthers and Trojans played tight in the beginning of the first set, as both teams were tied at nine a piece early. A pair of USC kills and an ace forced Pitt to take its first timeout. Valeria Vazquez Gomez impressed behind the service line to tie the set up at 15-15. Babcock recorded two straight kills to allow Pitt to take a 17-15 lead, but USC did not let up, as both teams went point for point. That was until a Trojan service error and another Babcock kill led USC to take a timeout, down 21-23. A Pitt service error and a kill for the Trojans forced the Panthers to take their second and final timeout. Stafford responded with a kill of her own, and USC took their last timeout. Neither team could string together two straight points to take the set until a USC service error and a Vazquez Gomez ace allowed Pitt to secure the first set, 31-29.
The Trojans responded well coming out of the break as both teams were tied at 10-10 early in the set. A kill a piece from Vazquez Gomez, Stafford and Babcock and an error from USC allowed Pitt to head into the media timeout up 15-11. The three pin hitters converted from the front row once again and forced USC to take a timeout as Pitt led 19-13. The Trojans attempted to get back into the set, but clean play from the Panthers and a final kill from Stafford gave Pitt the 2-0 lead.
Pitt and USC were tied at 4-4 in the third until Babcock went on a service run, recording two aces before Stafford registered an ace of her own to force USC to take a timeout at 10-5. Freshman Mallorie Meyer came into the set and created a 3-0 run, but a Pitt error and kill from the Trojans forced the Panthers to take a timeout, still up 15-11. Senior Cat Flood went on an 8-0 service run to extend the Pitt lead, and a kill from freshman middle blocker Ryla Jones secured the 25-16 third set win and match, 3-0.
NOTES
- Olivia Babcock recorded a season-high 17 kills on a .250 hitting percentage
- Torrey Stafford tied her season high in kills with 13, hitting .375
- Emmy Klika led the match with 11 digs and added a pair of assists
- Ryla Jones added a career-high seven blocks on the night
UP NEXT
The No. 1 Panthers continue their stretch in California and will play Pepperdine at the Firestone Field House Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET.
