PITTSBURGH — The No. 1-ranked Pitt Panthers in volleyball dominated ACC rival No. 13 Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, again dominating and staying undefeated in 2024.
The Panthers (12-0 overall, 2-0 ACC) have won 12 in a row for 36 straight games, are the only team in Division I without dropping a set and are the only undefeated team in the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Panthers also improved to 16-2 overall against the Yellow Jackets, winning six straight in the series and 9-0 against Atlanta.
Pitt had two kills from sophomore outside hitter Torrey Stafford, and three blocks each from freshman middle blocker Lyla Jones and sophomore right side Olivia Babcock in the first set. They started off with a quick 8-2 lead.
The Panthers then went on an 11-2 run, gaining a 19-4 advantage against the Yellow Jackets, who committed six offensive errors.
Georgia Tech struggled until the end, but Pitt took the first set 25-11. Pitt outscored Georgia Tech 7-0, hitting .522 to -.185.
The Yellow Jackets started the second set with a 7-4 lead, but the Panthers fought back with a 7-2 run to take an 11-9 lead. Panthers head coach Dan Fisher made a key challenge during this run, giving his team a 10-9 advantage.
Georgia Tech tied it at 11 points, but Pitt went 7-1 to 18 by media timeout thanks to redshirt junior middle blocker Bre Kelly’s 1 kill and 1 block, and 2 kills and 1 block. With a 12-point lead, a media timeout was called. Stafford.
The Panthers held off the Yellow Jackets and took the second set 25-17. The Panthers once again hit .522, holding the Yellow Jackets to a .088 batting average.
The third set started tied at four for both teams, but Pitt took a 12-4 lead with six-year outside hitter Valeria Vazquez-Gomez and Babcock each had three kills and the next eight points. .
The Panthers went on to win 11-3 and finished the match with a commanding 25-8 set victory.
Pitt held Georgia Tech to a season-low batting average of -.043, the first time it held an opponent to a batting average of -.099 since Coppin State hit -.099 in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. It was the lowest recorded.
The Panthers also had a season-high 12 blocks, with Kelly leading the way with six block assists and Jones adding a solo block and four block assists for a total of five blocks.
Babcock had a sensational game for Pitt, earning her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs, adding five blocks and hitting .478.
Stafford continues to show why she is one of the best players in the country, hitting .500 with 11 kills, plus six digs and two blocks.
Senior setter Rachel Fairbanks had 32 assists and eight goals in Pitt’s win over Georgia Tech.
Vasquez-Gomez had nine kills, hit .471, and added three digs and two blocks. Kelly and Jones themselves had four kills and three kills.
Pitt is scheduled to return on the road next weekend, starting Oct. 4 at Boston College.
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