University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
21-4,13-2ACC
#5 Stanford
23-3,14-1ACC
No. 3 Pitt Drops Five Set Battle to No. 5 Stanford
11/15/2025 1:14:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – The No. 3 Pitt volleyball team (21-4, 13-2 ACC) dropped a five-set battle to No. 5 Stanford (23-3, 14-1 ACC), falling 24-26, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 14-16 on Friday night in Maples Pavilion. Bre Kelley posted a season-high 10 kills and seven blocks on an .833 hitting percentage, while Olivia Babcock led all players with 28 kills, adding 10 digs and seven blocks.
The Panthers opened set one with strong momentum, taking a 15-11 lead into the media timeout. A Marina Pezelj kill and a Brooke Mosher ace extended Pitt's lead to 17-12, prompting a Stanford timeout. Pitt earned set point at 24-20, but Stanford responded with a 6-0 run to win the set.
Stanford carried that momentum into set two, forcing an early Pitt timeout with a 6-2 deficit. The Panthers answered with a 5-2 run behind two Pezelj kills, leading the Cardinal to use a timeout of their own. Pitt battled back to even the score, but Stanford closed out the set, 25-22.
Pitt flipped the script to start set three, surging to an 11-6 lead and forcing a Stanford timeout. The Panthers' efficient offense continued to create problems, leading Stanford to burn its final timeout trailing 18-12. Pitt secured the set, 25-18, to extend the match.
Behind the serve of Izzy Masten, Pitt jumped out to a 5-1 lead in set four, prompting another early Stanford timeout. The Cardinal later forced Pitt to talk things over with a narrow 16-13 advantage, but the Panthers responded. A Pezelj kill followed by a Ryla Jones and Abbey Emch block pushed the lead, and Stanford used its final timeout. Pitt closed out the set, 25-17, to force a decisive fifth frame.
The Panthers led 9-7 in the fifth and held match point at 14-11, but Stanford closed on a 5-0 run to take the match, 3-2.
Pitt concludes its California road swing against Cal on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
NOTES
- Bre Kelley recorded a season-high 10 kills along with seven blocks and three assists
- Four Panthers notched double-digit kills - Babcock (28), Bayless (15), Pezelj (11), Kelley (10)
- Abbey Emch registered a career-high six blocks along with four kills, an assist and her first career ace
