Pitt volleyball earned a share of the ACC title for the second straight season, with many great performances along the way from a number of players.
Two players that stood out this season are first-year right side hitter Olivia Babcock and junior setter Rachel Fairbanks, and the conference rewarded them for their performances throughout 2023. Babcock earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors, while Fairbanks earned ACC Setter of the Year honors. The duo become the first two Panthers to win either award in program history, since joining the ACC in 2013.
Babcock led Pitt with 349 kills, 40 service aces and 441.5 points in the regular season. She was also second with 100.0 total blocks and finished fifth on the team with 124 digs. Across the ACC, her 4.51 points per set ranked second, her 0.41 service aces per set ranked third and her 3.56 kills per set ranked fifth. Her points per set finished second best for any first-year in Division I as well.
She earned six ACC Freshman of the Week honors, while also receiving ACC Offensive Player of the Week and AVCA National Player of the Week honors for her performance in a sweep against then ranked No 8 Georgia Tech on the road on Nov. 11. She led Pitt with 15 kills and had an incredible .652 hitting percentage, while also finishing second with four total blocks, three digs and tied sophomore libero/defensive specialist Dillyn Griffin for two services aces, best on Pitt.
Fairbanks led Pitt with 748 assists, 9.12 per set, ranking fourth best in the ACC. She was also third on the team with 19 service aces, fourth with 152 digs and fifth with 53 kills and 40.0 total blocks.
The duo become the second and third Panthers to ever receive ACC Individual Awards, along with former outside hitter Kayla Lund, who won ACC Player of the Year in the 2019 and 2020-21 seasons. Babcock and Fairbanks also made All-ACC First Team and Babcock made the All-ACC Freshman Team as well.
Pitt volleyball earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and has the chance to host through to the Final Four. They host Coppin State in the First Round, 7 p.m. Friday night at the Petersen Events Center.
