How Pitt Volleyball Can Defeat Nebraska in the Final Four

TAMPA, Fla. — Pitt Volleyball will face a great challenge in Nebraska Thursday night, 7:00 p.m. at Amalie Arena that should feature as a fantastic match, but one that will challenge Pitt all the way.

Keys to Pitt Volleyball Defeating Nebraska in the Final Four

Start Off Better

Pitt has won most of its games this year, but hasn’t always had the greatest of starts when facing tougher competition. They lost the first two sets in all three matches against Louisville, falling in a sweep on the road on Oct. 13, then reverse sweeping in front of a record crowd at the Petersen Events Center on Nov. 18 and once again in the Elite Eight last Saturday at Fitzgerald Field House.

They also reverse swept then ranked No. 13 Georgia Tech at home on Oct. 6, making it three reverse sweeps this season, compared to just one in head coach Dan Fisher’s first 10 seasons at the helm.

Everyone loves reverse sweeps, but they aren’t sustainable, particularly this late in the NCAA Tournament. Pitt also had two failed reverse sweep attempts in the regular season against No. 7 Oregon at home on Sept. 14 and Florida State on the road on Nov. 3. In both matches, they lost the first two sets, but won the next two to take it to a final fifth set. Despite staying close in those final sets, they lost both matches.

If the Panthers can either take the first set or two, or even the second set, from the Cornhuskers, they’ll have a far better chance than if they fall behind early.

Win Serve-Receive

Serve-receive plays a massive role in any match, but for Pitt and Nebraska, the winner of this category has a great chance of making the National Title game.

Dominating on the service line is something the Panthers did in the latter part of their Elite Eight match against the Cardinals.

The Panthers had 11 service aces to 11 service errors, while the Cardinals had five service aces to 16 service errors, a season high for them. Those 11 service aces for the Panthers are a season-high and program record in an NCAA Tournament match.

Pitt also won the serve-receive as well, with a .935 defensive percentage on serves, compared to Louisville’s .885. Pitt made just five errors on 77 Louisville serves, while Louisville made 11 errors on 96 Pitt serves.

First-year right side hitter Olivia Babcock had five service errors to start the match, but a big service run in the fourth set, with three service aces, helped the Panthers tie the match. Senior outside hitter/serve specialist Cat Flood had two service aces, along with one during an important service run in the fifth set to help the Panthers win the match.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Valeria Vazquez Gomez dominated both on the service line and in serve receive. She tied a season high and program record in an NCAA Tournament match with four service aces, while also staying perfect defensively in reception, 21 of 21 serves.

Nebraska is a great team defensively in serve-receive. They have two of the better liberos/defensive specialists in the country in First-Team All-American junior Lexi Rodriguez and  Laney Choboy, who make it incredibly difficult for opposing teams to either get a service ace, or force them out of system. Rodriguez has a .981 reception rate, with just one error, while Choboy has a .940 reception rate in the NCAA Tournament so far.

“She is certainly one of the best in college,” Fisher said Wednesday at Final Four media day. “She’s a very good defender, but for me what sets her apart is serve/receive. She’s very calm on the ball. And you can get her once, but it’s hard to get multiple in a row off of her, serve/receive.”

Arkansas did excel in serving against Nebraska in the Elite Eight with eight service aces, with four coming from graduate student outside hitter and Second Team All-American Jill Gillen. Arkansas also only allowed one service ace, .989 reception rate, putting on an incredible defensive performance in that part of the match.

Pitt will need big performances from first-year outside hitter Torrey Stafford, junior libero/defensive specialist Emmy Klika and Vazquez Gomez in the back row to get this win, but especially in serve-receive.

The Panthers also have more service aces in the NCAA Tournament so far compared to the Cornhuskers, 29-15. If they can do great both on the serve and in reception, the Panthers will put themselves in great position to win this match.

Have the First-Years Dominate

Both teams are full of first-year talent that have starred all season and will play in the most important match of their collegiate careers Thursday night.

Babcock and Stafford have excelled for Pitt this season, as Babcock won National Freshman of the Year and earned First Team All-American honors, while Stafford earned Third-Team All-American and All-ACC Freshman Team honors.

Nebraska has many first-year players that have made this team the best in the country up to this point. Outside hitter Harper Murray won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award and made both the First Team All-Big Ten and the All-American Third Team. Bergen Reilly received the Big Ten Setter of the Year award and made Second-Team All-American as well as First Team All-Big Ten.

Middle blocker Andi Jackson received Second Team and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team along with Murray and Reilly. Choboy is just another example of the youth in this Cornhuskers squad that have played throughout 2023. 

Babcock and Stafford will need to excel in kills and defensively, with Babcock making big time blocks and Stafford handling Nebraska’s serve and making digs. Strong performances from the duo would put the Panthers in a good spot against the Cornhuskers.

Dominate at the Net

The play of the middle blockers for both sides will serve crucial for two great blocking teams, with Nebraska holding a slight edge over Pitt, 48.0-47.0, in total blocks in the NCAA Tournament.

Graduate students in Chiamaka Nwokolo and Emma Monks have both dominated at the net in the NCAA Tournament so far. Monks has 25 total blocks and 24 block assists, both records for the most in an NCAA Tournament in program history, while Nwokolo’s five solo blocks are the second most in an NCAA Tournament for a Pitt player.

Nebraska also brings in some great middle blockers as well in sophomore Bekka Allick and Jackson.

Allick is first with 144 total blocks, 1.46 per set and eight solo blocks. She is also second on the team with a .325 hitting percentage and fifth with 178 kills, 1.80 per set. Jackson is second with 112 total blocks, 1.09 per set and third with both 228 kills, 2.04 per set and 291.5 points, 2.60 per set. 

Pitt is second of the nation in blocks per set, 2.96, with Babcock playing a role herself, second on the team with 117.0 total blocks, 1.04 per set.

The team that controls the match at the net, winning in blocks and quick kills, will have the best chance to win.

Take Advantage of Nebraska’s Arrogance

Nebraska fans and much of the national media have come into this match just assuming they will win this one. Some reporters chose to spend time Wednesday asking Nebraska head coach who he’d rather play in the National Title match. Reporters have even resulted to asking Nebraska fans if they want to play either one of their rivals, Texas or Wisconsin, in the next match.

No one is really giving Pitt a serious shot to win this match and there are understandable reasons for that. Considering past history, with Pitt losing all previous 14 matches against Nebraska, including the Final Four in 2021, and with Nebraska’s five National Titles to Pitt’s 0, it’s not surprising to see opposing fans and national media assume that they will just win.

This disregard and disrespect towards the Panthers is something they should use as motivation in this match. With no one expecting them to do anything at all, they have almost no pressure and have that advantage compared to their counterparts.

Play Pitt Volleyball 

Pitt has played some of the best volleyball in the country this season. They are third in Division I with a .308 hitting percentage and Nebraska only holds a slight average in opponent hitting percentage, .134 to .138 for the best two teams in the country.

The Panthers are the only team to make three straight Final Fours and this is their best team that they’ve ever had. Sticking to what they do best, hard hitting, fast movement, great passing and more is why Pitt has been great this year and why they can come out on top over the Cornhuskers.

“Yeah, I think that we try to treat every opponent the same,” Fairbanks said. “Like obviously every opponent is different. But we just focus preparing really well and not letting all the outward noise get to us, just focusing on who we are as a team and playing our best volleyball.”