Pitt sweeps Penn State in top-3 match, winning its 21st straight set
😼 Pitt solidifies No. 1 ranking
The Panthers continued their hot streak tonight, beating No. 3 Penn State in straight sets (25-15, 25-19, 25-18). In front of a sold-out home crowd, Pitt shined, winning each set by a comfortable six or more points despite dropping six straight points in set three.
The Nittany Lions have proven to be a tough team to put away this season, trailing then-No. 9 ranked Kentucky 2-0 on Sept. 6 before winning three straight sets to complete the comeback. Tonight, though, the Panthers made sure to stay collected during their few scoring droughts and kept PSU at a distance throughout the match.
Pitt remains the only Division I volleyball team yet to drop a set this season, winning 21 straight en route to a 7-0 start. Penn State drops to 8-1 on the season and will look to bounce back on Friday, Sept. 20 against James Madison.
THAT WAS INSANE!!!!!
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
🧹 No. 1 Pitt sweeps No. 3 Penn State
The Panthers looked unstoppable in their 3-0 win over the Nittany Lions (25-15, 25-19, 25-18). Pitt has now won 21 straight sets to open the season, and they remain the only team in Division I volleyball that is yet to drop a set this year.
OUR. STATE.
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
🐆 Nittany Lions showing signs of life
S3 | Pitt 18, 14 ACE! ♠️
— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL)
It's a 5-0 🦁 run
Pitt takes Set 2️⃣
Rach from the service line >>>
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
S2|
Pitt - 21
PSU - 17
⚔️ Tight race for Set 2
Pitt leads 17-16 in the second set. Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford lead the way for the Panthers with five kills a piece. Taylor Trammel leads Penn State with three kills late in the second set.
Pitt takes Set 1️⃣
No. 1 Pitt takes the first set 25-15. The Panthers extend their set streak to 19-0.
That's one 😏
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
🔥 Pitt up early in Set 1
The Panthers are rolling early, with a crazy sequence to go up seven.
ABSOLUTE INSANITY!
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
📺 ACCN
🏐 Action underway
Starting rotations
*Starters
👀 30 minutes until game time
No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. 3 Penn State are facing off in one of the most anticipated matches of the season tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Pitt is the only Division I team that has not dropped a set this season. The Panthers will try to carry this incredible streak into this in-state rivalry matchup against a Penn State team that has only dropped three sets all season.
Follow along here for live updates and highlights, and tune in to ACC Network to watch all the action.
𝗡𝗼. 𝟯 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵
— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL)
First top-five matchup in series history
🆚 Pittsburgh
📍 Petersen Events Center
⌚️ 7 p.m.
📺
📊
⚔️ Team comparison
Through matches on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024
Stat | Pitt | Penn state |
---|---|---|
Record | 6-0 | 8-0 |
AVCA ranking | No. 1 | No. 3 |
Team hitting % | .334 | .337 |
Opp. hitting % | .103 | .154 |
Assists per set | 13.11 | 13.19 |
Service aces/errors | 44/34 | 46/62 |
Digs per set | 13.0 | 13.11 |
Blocks per set | 2.4 | 2.63 |
Top individual kills | Olivia Babcock (69) | Jess Mruzik (96) |
Top individual assists | Rachel Fairbanks (145) | Izzy Starck (287) |
Top individual blocks | Ryla Jones (21) | Maggie Mendelson (32) |
📝 Match preview
No. 1 Pitt (6-0) and No. 3 Penn State (8-0) each enter this highly anticipated match undefeated on the season.
Penn State is 33-19 all-time in the series, including wins in 16 consecutive matches stretched between 1987 and 2017.
2024 resumes
- 😼 Pittsburgh (6-0)
- The Panthers are yet to lose a set this season, sweeping every opponent they have faced.
- Pitt has already taken down two ranked opponents in then-No. 10 ranked Oregon and then-No. 23 Southern California.
- The Panthers are third in the nation in aces per set (2.44) and hitting percentage (.344).
In-state rivalry ✔️
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB)
Top five matchup ✔️
What else could you ask for!? Pitt fans, we need you at the Pete on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
🎙️
- 🐆 Penn State (8-0)
- The Nittany Lions have swept six of their eight opponents, including a sweep of No. 4 Louisville.
- Penn State has dropped only three sets on the season, winning 3-2 against then-No. 9 ranked Kentucky and 3-1 to then-No. 15 ranked Tennessee.
- The Nittany Lions rank second nationally in hitting percentage (.337) and seventh in kill per set (14.52).
🏐 Latest AVCA top 10
Through matches on Sept. 16, 2024
1. Pittsburgh (Prev. 1)
2. Stanford (Prev. 2)
3. Penn State (Prev. 3)
4. Louisville (Prev. 4)
5. Nebraska (Prev. 5)
6. Purdue 6 (Prev. 7)
7. Wisconsin (Prev. 8)
8. Texas (Prev. 6)
9. Creighton (Prev. 9)
10. Kansas (Prev. 11)
👀 How to watch No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 3 Penn State
- 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18
- ⏰ Time: 7 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV: ACC Network
- 📍Location: Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 📊 Follow: Live stats and score