It was a big weekend for the Pitt volleyball program and a milestone moment for head coach Dan Fisher.
The No. 9 ranked Panthers first beat No. 18 Washington State in four sets (18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23) and then followed that up with a three set win over host team South Carolina (25-16, 25-16, 25-23) to win the Carolina Classic. With the two victories, Pitt stands at 3-0 to start off the 2021 season.
Along with being a big win for the program, this was an historic win for head coach Dan Fisher as the win over South Carolina was his 200th as head coach of the Panthers program. Since being named head coach, Fisher’s record at Pitt is 200-54, a .787 win percentage.
In terms of outstanding individual performances in the championship game against South Carolina, transfer middle blocker Serena Gray had nine kills along with a career-high of seven blocks. Outside hitter Kayla Lund had a match-high 11 digs and nine kills while ride side Chinaza Ndee also came up with nine kills. In her first start of the season, Valeria Vazquez Gomez contributed five kills as did Jordan Lockwood, who provided Fisher solid play off the bench.
Looking at team statistics, Pitt dominated in kills (41-28), assists (39-28), aces (6-2), digs (35-25) and blocks (13.0-6.0).
Pitt is on the road again next weekend as they travel to Knoxville, Tennessee to take take on No. 10 Baylor and host Tennessee.
Going to TN next week with its covid issues and likey the remnants of a hurricane passing through seems like a terrible challenge.