Pitt
Pepperdine
No. 1 Pitt Wins Five Straight, Sweeps Pepperdine Friday Night
9/14/2024 12:31:00 AM | Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. - The No. 1 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (5-0, 0-0 ACC) dominated in a 3-0 sweep against tournament host Pepperdine (1-5, 0-0 WCC) on Friday night. Once again, Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock led the offensive charge, combining for 28 kills. Rachel Fairbanks notched 28 assists and seven digs as Pitt hit a blistering .305.
The beginning of the first set was highly contested, as Pitt held a narrow lead at 6-5 before picking up momentum. The Panthers proceeded to go on a 9-5 run as Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Bre Kelley, Stafford and Babcock all recorded at least one kill, giving Pitt the 15-10 advantage at the media timeout. The Waves attempted to go on a run of their own, but an efficient side out percentage from the Panthers, and a pair of Pepperdine errors forced the Waves to take a timeout, down 14-20. An efficient Pitt attack and a final kill from Stafford allowed Pitt to take the first set, 25-18.
Pitt came out of the break on fire, as a kill and 5-0 run from Vazquez Gomez forced Pepperdine to take an early timeout, down 2-6. The Panthers picked up the service pressure as Cat Flood and Babcock recorded an ace shortly after. Pepperdine did not have an answer and called its final timeout at 12-4. Another Babcock ace and 4-0 run extended Pitt's lead to 17-4. Senior setter Nisa Buzlutepe came in and immediately made a difference, racking up three points from the line and added an assist to Babcock, securing the set two win, 25-8.
The Waves responded after set two, as both teams were tied 5-5 early in the third. The trio of pin hitters continued to impress, pushing Pitt to a 15-12 advantage at the media timeout. A Pepperdine error and three Pitt kills caused the Waves to take a timeout, down 13-19. The Panthers finished the match on a 6-2 run, taking the match, 3-0.
NOTES
- Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock accounted for 62 percent of Pitt's kills
- Valeria Vazquez Gomez tied the match high with 13 digs
- The Panthers were perfect on 39 reception attempts
- Stafford recorded her first double-double of the year, adding 14 kills and 12 digs
UP NEXT
The No. 1 Panthers complete its California stretch against UCSB at the Firestone Field House Saturday afternoon at 6 p.m. ET.
