Pitt volleyball head coach Dan Fisher and rising sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks led the U.S. Women’s U21 National Team to a gold medal in the Pan American Cup Sunday night.
Fisher served as head coach of the team and Fairbanks earned a spot as one of just 12 players to make the U21 national team. The team traveled to U21 Pan American Cup in La Paz, California Sur, Mexico, which took place last Tuesday, June 7 through Sunday, June 12. The title is the second for the U.S. in this competition, winning it once back in 2017.
The U.S. swept their pool-play, beating Canada and Costa Rica in three straight sets and then finishing off Argentina, 3-1, to win Pool C. They faced off against Chile in the semifinals and swept in three sets, before a rematch with Argentina came in the final.
The U.S. won the first set, 25-20, but dropped the second set, 25-21, to tie the match at 1-1. They then won a close third set, 25-22 and easily took the fourth set, 25-14, to win the gold medal.
Fairbanks started as setter throughout the tournament, helping the U.S. to dominate opponents and earn the gold medal.