The Pitt women’s volleyball team faced their most intense battle of the season Thursday night in front of a raucous home crowd at the Petersen Events Center. In a dramatic five-set match, the Panthers, led by sophomore sensation Olivia Babcock, stunned the Oregon Ducks 3-2 (25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12) to advance to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8. With the victory, Pitt continues its quest for a fourth consecutive trip to the Final Four, a feat that would solidify their place as one of the nation’s volleyball powerhouses.
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As soon as the ball hit the floor for the final time, the atmosphere in the arena was electric with the overwhelming sense of accomplishment, relief, and excitement. The win was not only significant in terms of advancing to the next round but was also a testament to the resilience and grit the Panthers showed in overcoming adversity—something that had been rare for this 32-1 team throughout the regular season.
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Olivia Babcock’s Stellar Performance
At the heart of Pitt’s victory was Olivia Babcock, whose dominant presence on the court turned the tide in the critical fifth set. Standing at 6-foot-4, with an arm that could send the ball thundering into the opposing court, Babcock is a force to be reckoned with. The sophomore All-American and ACC Player of the Year delivered when her team needed it most, finishing the match with a remarkable 31 kills—setting a new school record for NCAA Tournament matches.
Babcock’s approach to her game is simple yet effective. When asked about her mindset, she offered a straightforward answer that encapsulated her no-nonsense attitude: “Hit the ball as hard as you can,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “We practice that. (Coach Dan Fisher) throws me a lot of deep balls. (He says), ‘Hit it,’ and I do.”
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Her statement, while seemingly casual, reflects the work ethic and intense preparation that she and her teammates put in every day. Babcock also acknowledged the importance of mental toughness, an element that played a crucial role in the Panthers’ success. “Our mindset gets stronger every single day,” she said. “We know our mindset matters just as much as how we perform on the court.”
The Fifth Set: A Battle of Nerves and Nerve
The match was far from straightforward, with both teams exchanging momentum swings in a contest that had the hallmarks of a championship-level showdown. Oregon, a formidable opponent with a balanced attack and sharp serving, gave the Panthers all they could handle, pushing the match to a decisive fifth set. It was here, in the final frame, where Pitt’s poise and grit would be tested the most.
The fifth set was a nail-biting affair, with both teams matching each other point-for-point. At one stage, the score was deadlocked at 8-8, with neither team willing to concede the match. However, it was Babcock who once again rose to the occasion. After a brief back-and-forth, Babcock unleashed two of her record-breaking 31 kills, swinging with precision and power to give the Panthers a crucial 12-9 lead. Pitt would go on to clinch the set 15-12, securing their place in the Elite 8.
Despite the victory, Pitt’s head coach, Dan Fisher, was quick to recognize that the match had not been without its challenges. “(Oregon) gave us a ton to deal with,” he said. The Ducks’ serving strategy—particularly their deep balls that seemed to hover dangerously near the backline—disrupted the Panthers’ rhythm at times, and Pitt’s players were visibly rattled as they struggled to read the trajectory of some serves.
However, the Panthers were able to shake off the confusion and regroup, relying on their deep roster and experience to close out the match in the fifth set. Fisher was particularly proud of his team’s ability to play through adversity. “It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be ugly at times, and sometimes you need your B and C game,” he said. “Just an incredible, gritty effort by our team to find a way to persevere when it wasn’t always going our way.”
Strong Defensive Effort and Team Depth
While Babcock’s performance was a headline-grabbing one, Pitt’s defensive effort was equally crucial to the victory. The Panthers recorded a remarkable 71 digs in the match, a testament to their relentless determination to keep the ball off the floor. Senior setter Rachel Fairbanks played a key role in orchestrating the team’s defense, guiding her teammates through the chaos of Oregon’s unpredictable offense.
“I thought our defense was pretty relentless,” Fisher said. “We had a ton of digs, and that’s the kind of effort you need in a match like this.” The defense wasn’t just about individual effort, though. It was a collective performance, with outside hitter Torrey Stafford adding 14 kills and Bre Kelley contributing another 12. Together, the trio of Babcock, Stafford, and Kelley formed an offensive juggernaut that proved too much for Oregon to handle.
Looking Ahead: A Final Four in Reach
With the win, Pitt now sets its sights on a matchup against Kentucky in the Elite 8, where the winner will earn a trip to Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center for the national semifinals. Kentucky, fresh off a 3-1 victory over Missouri, represents another formidable challenge for the Panthers, but the momentum from this dramatic win will likely fuel their confidence heading into the next battle.
Fisher knows the importance of balancing the team’s physical needs with their mental focus as they prepare for the next round. With the most intense games of the season coming during finals week, Fisher emphasized the importance of recovery. “The priority is recovery,” he said. “We need to use that wisely and get some good sleep and get some good treatment. We just had a pretty intense battle.”
A Team of Champions
One of the defining characteristics of this Pitt team has been its ability to rise to the occasion when faced with adversity. While the Panthers have rarely faced challenges this season, Fisher believes the nail-biting victory over Oregon provided valuable lessons that will serve them well in the coming rounds.
“You can’t just be a team that can play when you’re up,” Fisher said. “That doesn’t work at this level anymore. There are eight teams left.” The Panthers are now one of those eight teams, and with the heart and determination they showed Thursday night, they have the potential to go all the way.
For Babcock and her teammates, the journey is far from over. But as they continue to chase that elusive national title, they know they have what it takes to overcome any obstacle in their path.
