Last Updated 9:31 PM, September 18, 2024

Pitt sweeps Penn State in top-3 match, winning its 21st straight set

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Georgia Tech enters, Creighton drops in women's college volleyball Power 10
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12:59 am, September 19, 2024

😼 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. 

12:38 am, September 19, 2024

🧹 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. 

12:29 am, September 19, 2024

🐆 Nittany Lions showing signs of life

Penn State trailed 18-8 before a 6-0 run to cut the lead to just four behind an Izzy Starck ace. The Panthers lead 18-14 in the third set. 
12:01 am, September 19, 2024

Pitt takes Set 2️⃣

The Panthers ran away in the second set, securing eight of the last 11 points in the 25-19 set two win. 
11:51 pm, September 18, 2024

⚔️ 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 volleyball
11:28 pm, September 18, 2024

Pitt takes Set 1️⃣

No. 1 Pitt takes the first set 25-15. The Panthers extend their set streak to 19-0. 

11:20 pm, September 18, 2024

🔥 Pitt up early in Set 1

The Panthers are rolling early, with a crazy sequence to go up seven. 

11:05 pm, September 18, 2024

🏐 Action underway

Starting rotations 

Penn State rotation

 

Pitt rotation

*Starters

10:28 pm, September 18, 2024

👀 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. 

5:02 pm, September 17, 2024

⚔️ 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)
4:02 pm, September 17, 2024

📝 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). 
  • 🐆 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).
3:45 pm, September 17, 2024

🏐 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)

➡️ Click or tap here for the full top 25 rankings

3:08 pm, September 17, 2024

👀 How to watch No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 3 Penn State

Pitt vs Penn State women's volleyball
  • 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18 
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • 📺 TV: ACC Network
  • 📍Location: Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 📊 Follow: Live stats and score