With a spot in the NCAA Regional Final on the line, Pitt volleyball delivered when it mattered most. Following their recent victory over Michigan on Saturday, the Panthers took down the Wolverines’ fellow Big Ten competitor, Minnesota, in straight sets — 25-16, 25-24 and 25-22.
“[Minnesota] pushed us and made us uncomfortable,” head coach Dan Fisher said. “We weren’t as crisp offensively as we usually are. But we found a way, and we’re just grateful to still be dancing.”
Give them their flowers
Redshirt senior middle blocker Bre Kelley was on fire on Thursday night, finishing with eight kills on 10 swings, hitting an outstanding 0.800 without a single error. Kelley, who was recently named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, attributed some of her on-the-court energy to junior opposite hitter Olivia Babcock.
“I feel like when we’re on the court, we just have great energy,” Kelley said. “We’re so close off the court, I feel like I feed off of her all the time.”
Babcock had another extraordinary night offensively, recording 16 kills, eight digs and three blocks while hitting 0.366. While numbers like these would surely be any other collegiate player’s season, if not career-high, for the ACC Player of the Year, it’s simply another day at the office.
Key stat
Thursday night’s win solidified the Panthers’ eighth-straight win. Pitt has yet to drop a set since the team’s trip to the West Coast, where it lost one set in its victory over the Cal Golden Bears.
“In no way does it feel like we swept our way through [the Elite Eight],” Babcock said. “All of these teams are playing their hardest, and if you look at the scores, it’s not like we’re blowing teams out. I feel like it’s just testing us about how we can play at the end, and I think that’ll be something very important in these next three rounds.”
What about the other side?
The Golden Gophers came into the Sweet Sixteen fresh off their victory over Iowa State on Saturday, where they took the game in three straight sets — 25-21, 25-21 and 25-14. In the game against Iowa State, Minnesota hit an effective 0.384. However, against the Panthers on Thursday night, the Gophers’ hitting percentage was a mere 0.178, the team’s fourth-lowest hitting percentage of the season.
Minnesota volleyball faced several injuries to key players that significantly impacted its 2025 season. Losing four starters for the entire season forced the Gophers to turn to their youngest players to compete in a highly competitive Big Ten conference.
Despite their elimination, Minnesota applied significant pressure on the service line, with redshirt first-year setter Stella Swanson racking up three of the four total service aces, two of which came back-to-back in the second set. Additionally, graduate student middle blocker Lourdès Myers led the match with six blocks.
What’s next for the Panthers?
With their ticket punched for the Elite Eight, the Panthers will compete in the Regional Final in the Petersen Events Center on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. against Purdue.
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