Pitt volleyball landed a No. 5 ranking in the first AVCA Coaches Poll of 2023 on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming season.
Pitt is tied with Nebraska at No. 5 and ranks behind ACC rival Louisville at No. 4, Stanford at No. 3, Wisconsin, who they beat in the Elite Eight in 2022, at No. 2 and then reigning National Champions Texas at No. 1.
The Panthers will face the Cardinals twice this season, first on the road on Friday, Oct. 13 and then at home on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Petersen Events Center. It is highly likely that the better of these two opponents wins the ACC, or like last season, both teams as co-champions. Both teams won at home in the regular season last year, but the Cardinals won the Final Four matchup in five sets.
Pitt also takes on reigning SEC Champion No. 10 Kentucky home-and-away Labor Day weekend. They’ll face each other in Lexington, Ky. on Friday, Sept. 1 and then Pitt will host for their season home opener on Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Petersen Events Center.
Pitt opens their season against No. 17 BYU on Friday, Aug. 25 at the Ellesyn Invitational in Missoula, Mont. Pitt defeated BYU twice last season, first on the road and then in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 at the Petersen Events Center.
Two more ranked non-conference opponents feature on the schedule in No. 12 Marquette, who made it to the Sweet 16 last season, on the road on Friday, Sept. 8 and No. 9 Oregon, who it to the Elite Eight, in the first game at the Fitzgerald Field House on Thursday, Sept. 14.
No. 20 Georgia Tech is the other ranked ACC team that Pitt will face twice on Friday, Oct. 6 at home and then Friday, Nov. 10 in Atlanta, Ga. Pitt won both meetings last year, in four sets on the road and then in five sets at the Petersen Events Center.
Miami and Florida State also received votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll. Pitt will take on Miami twice on the road on Sunday, Nov. 5 and the last home game on Wednesday, Nov. 22, and Florida State on Friday, Nov. 3 in Tallahassee, Fla. James Madison, who received just five votes, comes to the Fitzgerald Field House on Saturday, Sept. 16.
GOOD luck LADY CATS Zane wishing you luck on quest for National championship.BEEN a on fantastic ride last few seasons.Sometimes it takes lucky bounces when teams of this caliber meet.All you can do is give 125% and see where the chips fall. You will look back (win or lose) later in life knowing you gave your best effort.