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Pitt Volleyball

Pitt Volleyball Picks Up Commitment from Oregon OH

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Pitt is looking to break through the Final Four wall next season despite the losses of Torrey Stafford (Texas) and Samara Coleman (TCU), and head coach Dan Fisher has turned to the transfer portal.

The losses of Stafford and Coleman left Pitt dangerously thin at outside hitter, with just junior Blaire Bayless on the roster, and the Panthers took advantage of a head coaching change in the Big Ten.

Oregon head coach Matt Ulmer took the job at Kansas and several Ducks hit the portal. Redshirt sophomore Sophie Gregoire was one of them.

Gregoire — a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Dundee, Ore. — made a trip to Pittsburgh this week, as evidenced by her Instagram story. And she committed to Pitt during the visit, the program announced on social media.

Gregoire wasn’t a huge contributor for the Ducks, but she’s a nice pickup for the Panthers — a former top recruit who was expected to take the next step at Oregon next season.

She redshirted in 2023 and played in 12 matches this season (29 sets). She hit .213 with 51 kills, two assists and three aces and 31 digs (1.07 per set). She wasn’t able to finish her second at Oregon, though, as she suffered a season-ending injury in early November.

Gregoire earned OSAA 6A All-State honors as a junior in high school, named the Pacific Conference Player of the Year for her efforts as she racked up 382 kills, 42 blocks and 35 aces for Newberg High. She was also named to the U-18 USA Volleyball National Team Development Program.

Pitt is returning Olivia Babcock and Bre Kelley, the National Player of the Year and a second-team All-American, respectively, but there will be some major losses to overcome. Stafford was a very tough, very surprising loss, and fellow All-American Rachel Fairbanks, Valeria Vazquez Gomez and Cat Flood are out of eligibility.

There is young talent on the roster waiting for a chance, but as it stands Bayless and Gregoire are the only outside hitters on the roster.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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