Pitt first-year duo in Blaire Bayless and right side hitter Olivia Babcock led the USA to a Championship at the U19 Pan American Cup on Sunday.
The USA had a dominant performance throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set throughout and sweeping the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica and Mexico in the Group Stage in three sets. They then swept Costa Rica in the Semifinal on Saturday, May 13 and then the Final on Sunday against Mexico, they won the first set 25-8 and then both the second and third sets, 25-18, to win the championship.
Bayless earned MVP honors for her play throughout the tournament, making 22 kills, nine aces and three blocks for 34 points. Babcock also played great for the USA, making 19 kills, three aces and a block en route to the championship. The two Panthers dominated in the final match against Mexico as well, as Bayless had seven kills, two aces and a block for 10 points and Babcock accrued eight kills.
Bayless and Babcock join the Pitt for the upcoming 2023 season as a part of the highest rated recruiting class in program history.
Bayless stands at 6-foot-2 and earned a ranking of the No. 5 recruit in the Class of 2023. She led her high school team to a District 6-6A Championship this year. Bayless received district MVP honors, earned a spot on the First-Team All-District in 2021, and Newcomer of the Year honors after her sophomore year. She also received the honor of playing in the 2022 Under Armour All-American match.
Babcock earned volleymag.com and AVCA First-Team High School All-American honors, as she led her high school, Sierra Canyon, to their first ever Division I girls volleyball championship. She stands at 6-foot-4, and prepdig.com ranked her at No. 27 her class, while prepvolleyball.com ranked her at No. 43.
What awesome recruits for the Panthers. Now if only Pitt’s football team can mimic such incredible recruiting results…