No. 1 Pitt volleyball sweeps Morehead State in NCAA first-round

No. 1 Pitt volleyball (30-1, 19-1 ACC) began its NCAA tournament run with precision and poise, sweeping Morehead State (18-14, 12-6 OVC) in straight sets. This victory extended the Panthers’ remarkable unbeaten streak at home to 32 matches, during which they have dropped only 12 sets — a run that dates back to Sept. 2023.

“I think there’s a different feeling, for sure. It’s one thing to say we’re treating every game like it’s the last game of the season,” head coach Dan Fisher said. “But it’s a big thing when it actually is … anyone in this tournament is very deserving and tough.”

Drawn as the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history, this statement win demonstrated Pitt’s desire to go all the way. ACC Coach of the Year Dan Fisher has garnered six ACC Championships during his tenure at Pitt and will look to add a National Championship to his impressive resume.

The Panthers and Eagles have squared off twice before winning one match a piece. The most recent clash signified a Panthers sweep in 2021. 

First Set: Pitt 25, Morehead State 17

The Panthers got off to a shaky start by their high standards, only leading Morehead State 17-15 halfway through the first set. Their class shone through towards the end of the set, however, pulling away to win the set 25-17.

“They hung in tough with us for a long time, they played hard defensively, they pushed us,” Fisher said.

ACC Player of the Year sophomore opposite hitter Olivia Babcock proved her value to Pitt early in the first set with five of Pitt’s first eight kills. It had a hitting percentage of .407 in the first set.

Second Set: Pitt 25, Morehead State 15

In the second set Pitt set the standard immediately with a 3-0 lead with two aces and an assist from Rachel Fairbanks. Fairbanks went on to get four aces as Pitt stormed away from the Eagles, winning the set 25-15.

“We always have [Fairbanks] serve first … she has a really good serve and it’s a good blocking line for us,” Fisher said.

Sophomore outside hitter Torrey Stafford led the line for Pitt with six kills. The Panthers held the Eagles to a hitting percentage of .125, allowing them to take the set despite theirs being .294 – falling .113 from the first set.

Third Set: Pitt 25,  Morehead State 15

Cutting it close in the final set, Pitt called a timeout at 12-11, with five of Morehead State’s points coming from Pitt errors. The Panthers came out of the gates all guns blazing, winning 13 of the last 17 points to win 25-15.

“I definitely think that it was a momentum shift and after [the timeout] we just kept on stomping trying to end it out,” Stafford said.

The Eagles allowing aces continued to be problematic, with the Panthers adding three bringing their total to 11 for the game. They also struggled with their own services, with Pitt preventing any aces.

Pitt also had offensive blemishes in the final set with a hitting percentage of just .135 – despite winning by ten.

Next, the Panthers host Oklahoma fighting for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Saturday at 7 p.m. after the Sooners reversed swept UTEP. The last time Pitt faced Oklahoma, it ran away 3-1 victors. The game is watchable on ESPN+ and back in the Petersen Events Center.