Pitt programs prepare for ACC championships while other look to finish and start strong

Cross-country set to face ACC Championship meet

The Panthers closed their regular season last weekend at their last meet in Madison, Wisconsin. The women placed No. 12 out of 29 teams in the 6k with Winnie Incorvaia as the first Panther to cross the finish line in 21:06 minutes. The senior finished first for the Panthers in all four meets this season and placed No. 27 overall in Wisconsin. 

The men finished No. 13 and placed two runners in the top 50. Senior Quintin Gatons placed No. 39 and first-year Thomas McMahon placed No. 49. 

The team has its first postseason meet on Friday, Nov. 1 in Cary, North Carolina. The 2024 ACC Cross-Country Championships start with the men’s 8k race at 9:30 a.m. followed by women’s 6k at 10:30 a.m. 

Women’s soccer kicks into ACC Championship

Pitt women’s soccer concluded regular season play against Notre Dame on Thursday, falling to the Fighting Irish 3-2. The Panthers enter post-conference play this weekend with accolades from several key players. Senior forward Sarah Schupansky matched the program record for most starts in a season, marking her 77th in the matchup against Wake Forest. The record-setter did it again in a game against Syracuse, earning the most assists served in a single season, 15, and career assists, 43. Junior goalkeeper Ellie Breech broke the record for the most wins in goal this season as well with the team’s win against Clemson. 

Pitt starts postseason play in the ACC Championship tournament this weekend as the tournament’s first round kicks off Sunday in Cary, North Carolina. After a run to the Elite Eight in last year’s tournament, the Panthers hope to continue their recent postseason success.

Volleyball takes on state of Virginia to continue ACC play

No. 1 volleyball looks to breeze through its Virginia stretch, facing both Virginia (17-4, ACC 7-3) and Virginia Tech (7-13, ACC 1-9). Both teams are unranked, and the Panthers look for smooth sweeps after slight trouble at home — dropping two sets to No. 4 Louisville and dropping one to Notre Dame. 

On Friday, they will face a better Virginia squad than they’ve seen with the Cavaliers off to their best start since 2003. The Panthers will come across road blocks in the form of junior middle blocker Kate Dean, who has one of the highest in-conference hitting percentages at .369, and senior libero Milan Gomillion who ranks third in digs per set at 4.25.

Next, the Panthers head to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face Virginia Tech’s Hokies, one of the worst teams in the ACC this year. There is a good possibility that Fisher and his team can register their lowest opponent hitting percentage here. 

Wrestling to begin season play

Pitt wrestling officially begins their season this Saturday against Navy. The Panthers face their opponent at home in the Fitzgerald Field House at 2 p.m. and then travel to Clarion for the Clarion Golden Eagle Open on Sunday morning. After a strong campaign last year, Pitt will try to start out the season well, hoping to build up to the heights they achieved in 2023.