University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Abby Answers: QB Questions, Soccer’s Postseason Outlook and Volleyball’s Libero Rotation
10/18/2026 4:55:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Softball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball
Happy Sunday, Panthers fans. With basketball tipping off in two weeks, football in the middle of a quarterback conversation, and volleyball and men's soccer both in the thick of the stretch run, the mailbag was stacked this week. Let's get to it.
Volleyball
Q: Why does Pitt use two liberos when other teams only use one? What's going on with the DS and libero rotation, and has Mallorie Meyer been demoted?
I'm combining a handful of questions here, since they all circle the same topic.
Pitt isn't the only school running a two-libero system. Florida State just came through with one too. It's about what makes your team strongest, and Pitt feels it's strongest with one libero on serve receive and the other on base defense, which is when the opponent is serving.
Right now that's Izzy Masten on serve receive and Trinity Thompson on base defense. I wouldn't call it a demotion for Meyer. Masten has simply been playing better lately, and Mallorie remains an option as a serving and defensive specialist. Marina Pezelj is also in that mix after her performance against SMU.
Here's what head coach Dan Fisher had to say after the Florida State match:
"Izzy in the last month has just been passing at a really high level. She's earned the jersey. We've talked about Trinity before, how much she can bring defensively. Izzy Masten did not get served until the third set, and we haven't seen that all year. I mean, she was getting lonely out there. So at this point, she's kind of earned the jersey. Whether Ayanna [Watson] stays in the back row or Mallorie plays or Marina, we have some good options. I'd say that's still up for grabs. But yeah, I've liked the way it looked the last couple games."
Football
Q: What is the answer at quarterback, since both Corey Dailey and Holden Geriner didn't have the best first career starts?
Neither backup is Mason Heintschel level, and constantly comparing the two is unfair to everyone involved.
Geriner is a fifth-year player making his first start. He did some good things and some bad things (27-of-44, 219 yards, two interceptions). Dailey is a rookie, and he's very green. I don't think even he expected to play meaningful snaps this season. He has a great arm, and the 75-yard touchdown pass to Cataurus Hicks against Boston College showed it off. However, His stat line wasn't particularly great, he went 11-of-25, for 193 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Pitt also didn't lose because of Dailey. He wasn't great, but the defensive play and the penalties are what really hurt the Panthers.
So what's the answer? I'm not totally sure. I do think Pitt should lean on the run game, with three very talented backs in Ja'Kyrian Turner (when healthy), Damon Ferguson Jr. and La'Vell Wright.
Men's Basketball
Q: I saw the score of the men's basketball exhibition at Providence. What's your take?
My take: it's Oct. 18, the season is still two weeks away, and what that game exposed will only make this team better. We knew Providence was going to be good. Most of what went wrong was correctable, like turnovers and rebounding, and that kind of thing comes together the more you play together. The team also played well in stretches.
Baye Ndongo went 6-for-8 for 13 points and seven rebounds, and A'lahn Sumler had 12 points, five assists and four made field goals on nine attempts. I also liked how balanced the scoring was: Jonathan Powell had 15, Nait George had nine and Chase Foster had eight. This team is going to succeed by committee, so seeing that balance early is huge.
Men's Soccer
Q: What does the men's soccer ranking mean? How is the postseason looking, and what makes this program so competitive year after year?
The latest D1 Committee Top 16 has Pitt at No. 6, one of three ACC teams in the top 10 alongside No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 SMU.
The postseason is looking very good. Assuming the wins keep coming, Pitt should be in a spot to host at least a few games. Only three matches remain: a home date with No. 3 Georgetown, plus Boston College and Virginia.
As for the consistency, it starts with Jay Vidovich. He keeps drawing top talent from both the States and overseas, then develops those players within the system so no one gets complacent. He's arguably one of the best coaches in D1 soccer.
Women's Basketball
Q: Do you think the women's basketball team will be greatly improved this year? Could they even be competitive in the ACC?
I think they'll be improved. By how much, I'm not totally sure. Robin Harmony is exactly what this program needs, because she truly knows what it takes to rebuild. But a rebuild doesn't happen in one season.
I like the roster she's put together, highlighted by sisters Taryn and Taylor Barbot. Alancia Ramsey brings power-conference experience, and Macie Arzner returns and has only gotten better.
Competitive in the ACC is probably a stretch, given how strong this conference is. I do think they'll win a few more games than they have the past couple of seasons.
Softball
Q: When does the softball season begin, and when will the schedule be released?
There are no exact dates yet, but the schedule usually comes out in late December. In the meantime, the team went 5-0 in its fall slate against IUP, Robert Morris, Ohio State and Case Western.
