Pitt Volleyball Sweeps Clemson to Remain Undefeated in ACC

PITTSBURGH — No. 7 Pitt volleyball faced some stiff competition from Clemson, but still managed to defeat them in a sweep Sunday afternoon at Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers (15-2 overall, 6-0 ACC) win their ninth straight match, which includes eight sweeps and a reverse sweep of No. 11 Georgia Tech last Friday in five sets. The win over the Tigers (11-7 overall, 2-4 ACC) improves their record in the all-time series to 13-1, 12-0 since joining the ACC in 2013 and five straight sweeps since April 2021.

Pitt and Clemson both kept it close throughout much of the first set, until Pitt broke out of 12-12 tie to make it 16-13. Clemson would continue to stay in the set, cutting it to a one point advantage at 17-16, but Pitt would hold on make it a four point lead at 22-18 and then win the set at 25-20.

The Tigers battled the Panthers in the second set and led for a large part of it, up 19-17 late on. The Panthers would then score three of the next four points to tie it up at 20 and then senior outside hitter Cat Flood came into to serve and led her team to a 25-21 set victory.

Pitt and Clemson continued to fight back-and-forth in the third set, with it tied up at 12-12. Pitt then scored three of the next four points, earning a 15-13 advantage, but Clemson kept it within reach, down just one at 17-16. Just like the first two sets, Pitt would rally to win the third set, holding Clemson off for a 25-22 victory.

First-year outside hitter Torrey Stafford had a solid game for Pitt in the win, making 11 kills, four total blocks and two digs. First-year right side hitter Olivia Babcock led the Panthers once again in kills with 16 against the Tigers, while also providing five blocks.

Stafford said her season is going well so far and that the team has done well in conference play with their undefeated start, even if it isn’t as dominant as they would like at times.

“Me, personally, I think it’s going really well,” Stafford said. “We started off, not our best, but we picked it up in the end. We picked up our defensive intensity, so, pulled off the win today. Proud.”

Graduate student middle blockers in Emma Monks and Chiamaka Nwokolo performed well at the net for Pitt. Monks had eight kills and a .667 hitting percentage, while Nwokolo had six kills and led Pitt with six total blocks.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Valeria Vasquez Gomez and junior libero/defensive specialist Emmy Klika both led the Panthers with 10 digs each. Junior setter Rachel Fairbanks had 41 assists in the win, just one of her season high of 42 against the Yellow Jackets.

Pitt volleyball will face their rival in No. 6 Louisville on the road on Friday, which will feature as a crucial match for both teams, as they look to win the ACC title.