The No. 1-seeded Pitt women’s volleyball team defeated No. 3-seeded Kentucky 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 to win its fourth straight Regional Final and advance to the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal. Olivia Babcock led the Panthers with a team-high 13 kills on .375 hitting percentage, earning her Most Valuable Player honors for the second consecutive season.
The match was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads in each set. However, Pitt’s strong serving and defensive play ultimately paid off. A key momentum shift came in the second set, when Mallorie Meyer’s serve helped the Panthers retake the lead. The team then closed out the set 25-23, taking the first two sets behind Babcock’s impressive play.
In the third set, Pitt took control with a 7-2 run, and their lead was never seriously threatened. Olivia Babcock capped off her outstanding performance with several key kills, including one from a Rachel Fairbanks assist.
The Panthers will now travel to Louisville, Kentucky, where they will face the winner of No. 2-seeded Stanford and No. 1-seeded Louisville’s quarterfinal match on December 19th in the NCAA Tournament National Semifinal.
Source: https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2024/12/14/womens-volleyball-no-1-panthers-sweep-kentucky-in-regional-final-to-advance-to-fourth-straight-national-semifinals.aspx