In a thrilling National Semifinal match at the NCAA Tournament, the top-seeded Pitt volleyball team fought valiantly but ultimately fell to the University of Louisville, losing 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 27-29, 25-17) on Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Despite the loss, Olivia Babcock delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a career-high 33 kills, which also set a program record for the most kills in an NCAA Tournament game for Pitt. She showcased remarkable accuracy with a .391 hitting percentage. Teammate Torrey Stafford contributed significantly with a double-double, recording 18 kills and 14 digs, while Emmy Klika added 21 digs to the Panthers’ defensive effort.
The match was a back-and-forth battle, with Pitt initially falling behind but rallying to take the first set 25-21, thanks to a strong finish powered by kills from Babcock and Bre Kelley. In the second set, the two teams exchanged leads, but Louisville’s resilience allowed them to even the match at one set apiece.
In what turned out to be a pivotal third set, Pitt took an early lead, only to find themselves battling against a determined Louisville squad that capitalized on several set points, eventually winning 29-27. The fourth set saw Louisville taking control and closing out the match despite efforts from Babcock, who continued to be a standout performer.
Though the outcome was disappointing, Pitt can take pride in their season, finishing with an impressive 33-2 record and demonstrating significant growth and talent. The performance of players like Babcock serves as a strong foundation for future competitions, and the team will likely aim to build on this momentum going forward.
Fans can remain optimistic about the team’s prospects as they look to regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead, knowing they have an exceptional group of players who have shown they can compete at the highest level.