Nika Markovic: Slovenian student serves success
By Tessa Sayers, Staff Writer
September 14, 2018
When Nika Markovic decommitted from the University of San Francisco, she had no idea she would end up at Pitt. Born in Braslovce, Slovenia, Markovic began playing volleyball at the age of 7. No-one - not even her - thought volleyball would be her sport.
Panthers set for NCAA tournament
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
December 1, 2017
After the Pitt women’s volleyball team finished its season tied as ACC champions for the first time in program history, the Panthers (25-6 overall, 18-2 ACC) earned a trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament for the second straight year. The team will travel to the neutral site of Penn Sta...
Pitt volleyball serves weekend of success
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
November 6, 2017
The Pitt volleyball team used not one, but two weekend wins to demonstrate why they belong at the top of ACC volleyball standings. The Panther volleyball team defeated Miami (15-5 overall, 9-5 ACC) and Florida State (12-10 overall, 6-8 ACC) at the Fitzgerald Field House to pull to 19-6 overall and 12-...
Volleyball analysis: Error-prone Panthers struggle against top teams
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 18, 2017
After fighting their way back from a two-set deficit against No. 25 Iowa State, the Panthers held serve with a chance to win the volleyball match in the fifth set. In losing that point and eventually the match on Sept. 2., the team squandered a big win and fell to 1-3 on the season. Despite now holding...
Women’s volleyball goes 1-1 at Dayton Invitational
By Grant Burgman / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Facing some of the nation’s best teams at the start of the season, the Pitt women’s volleyball team got off to a disappointing 1-2 start last week, and after their first match this past weekend in Dayton, Ohio, it looked like the massive amounts of errors were becoming a trend. “I'm really disap...
Volleyball drops two of three to open season
By David Leftwich / Staff Writer
August 27, 2017
After making it to their first NCAA Tournament since 2004 last fall, the Pitt women’s volleyball team began its 2017 season by traveling to Seattle to take part in the Husky Invitational. In their three games over the weekend, the Panthers (1-2) struggled to play error-free volleyball and squande...
Q&A: Akeo talks tournament, travel from Hawaii
By David Leftwich / Staff Writer
August 21, 2017
When junior setter Kamalani Akeo arrived at Pitt in the fall of 2015, she didn’t quite know what to expect — either on or off the court. After all, she was traveling over 4,500 miles from her hometown of Kapolei, Hawaii, where she played on one of the best high school teams in the state. In her j...
Fall sports preview: Women’s volleyball
By David Leftwich | Staff Writer
July 11, 2017
Last season, the slow rebuild of Pitt women’s volleyball program came to a head when the team made its first NCAA Tournament since 2004. With many key players returning, it’s now time for this year’s team to step up and solidify their place among the ACC’s best. Heading into last season, a you...
Head volleyball coach Dan Fisher given extension
By Bayard Miller | Assistant Sports Editor
February 28, 2017
Head volleyball coach Dan Fisher has restored the Panthers’ program to national prominence, and he’s being rewarded for his efforts. Interim Athletic Director Randy Juhl announced Monday afternoon Pitt has extended Fisher’s contract for another two years. He is now signed on to stay with the...
Pitt volleyball team finalizes 2017 recruiting class
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
November 10, 2016
Pitt head volleyball coach Dan Fisher has had plenty of reasons to smile this year. On Thursday, he had a new one — and the Panthers don’t play again until Friday. Already on a roll from five straight wins, the squad received a boost for the future early Thursday afternoon when Fisher revealed t...
Pitt volleyball stays hot with 3-1 win at Virginia Tech
By David Leftwich | Staff Writer
September 29, 2016
Whether it’s the unfamiliar arena or the heckling fans, playing on the road in any sport can be difficult. But the Pitt volleyball team settled right in Wednesday night with a victory in Blacksburg, Virginia. Pitt (12-3 overall, 3-0 ACC) began its second week of conference play by cruising to a 3-1...
Steely Dan: Fisher’s winning ways lead him to Pitt
By Steve Rotstein / Sports Editor
August 22, 2016
In his office, Pitt head volleyball coach Dan Fisher proudly displays his bronze medal from the 2016 Pan American Cup for anyone who wishes to see it. The really special hardware, though, is tucked away inside a case right beside it: his gold medal from the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Ear...
Fisher, Team USA secure bronze medals at 2016 Pan Am Cup
By Steve Rotstein / Sports Editor
July 10, 2016
With his second major tournament as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team behind him, Pitt head volleyball coach Dan Fisher now has two medals to his credit: a gold and a bronze. After a semifinal loss to Puerto Rico Saturday night, Team USA came up short in its quest for a second consecutive Pa...
Pitt coach Dan Fisher guides Team USA to undefeated start at Pan Am Cup
By Steve Rotstein / Sports Editor
July 5, 2016
Pitt women’s volleyball head coach Dan Fisher has the U.S. Women’s National Team off to a sizzling start at the 2016 Pan American Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Team USA swept its opener against Peru 3-0 July 2 and did the same in its match against Trinidad and Tobago the following day....
Fisher brings experience, leadership to Pitt volleyball
By Jessie Wallace / Staff Writer
October 13, 2015
By 2013, Dan Fisher already had a packed resume. He had completed his collegiate volleyball career at University of the Pacific, participating on the U.S. men’s national team. He coached at four different college programs, compiling an undefeated season at one of them. He served as the offensive coordina...
Pitt volleyball focusing internally in advance of Panther Invitational
By David Leftwich / For The Pitt News
September 17, 2015
Pitt volleyball will face three Division I opponents this weekend in the Panther Invitational — but the Panthers are their own biggest adversaries during the upcoming slate of games. After a successful 2-1 performance last weekend in which the Panthers’ only loss was a closely contested battle ...
Women’s volleyball prepares for test of Michigan Challenge
By David Leftwich / For The Pitt News
September 9, 2015
After two mostly successful tournament runs this season, the Pitt women’s volleyball team will move onto the boss level during an invitational this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Freshman outside hitter Stephanie Williams is not underestimating the challenge. “I think this is the toughest tour...
Pitt volleyball sets sights on home opener
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
September 3, 2015
After a successful triad of matches in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Pitt women’s volleyball team will hit familiar hardwood for the first time this season. The Panthers will debut in front of their own fans, taking on a trio of opponents during this weekend’s Pitt/Duquesne Invitational. The matches thems...
Panthers sweep tournament
By Caitlin Hinsey / Staff Writer
September 1, 2014
Although the Pitt volleyball team may have won all of its games over the weekend, the players know what they need to improve. Head coach Dan Fisher and the Panthers travelled to Bowling Green, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday to compete in the Hampton Inn Invitational, and they came out as tournament champio...
Feature: Senior volleyball player reps Pitt on national level
By Caitlin Hinsey / Staff Writer
July 8, 2014
In some ways, Delaney Clesen is like other typical college students who are entering their final undergraduate year. This summer, she is working toward her dream job and getting the chance to travel.But Clesen is not a typical college senior — her dream job is to be a professional volleyball player.For the last two...