Sunday in Pittsburgh was all about one thing: dominance. Olivia Babcock and the No. 5 Pitt Panthers made sure of that. They dispatched No. 11 SMU in a 3-1 victory, marking their tenth straight win of the season. The Panthers? They just handled business.
Babcock's Show
Let's be real—Olivia Babcock was unstoppable. The 2024 AVCA Player of the Year put on a clinic with a season-high 29 kills on .434 hitting. She was a problem for SMU, especially in the third set, where she alone racked up 13 kills. That's big time.
But it wasn't just Babcock. Brooke Mosher was right there with her, leading the Panthers to a .310 hitting percentage with 52 assists. She added nine digs and a block for good measure. Mosher was the engine, and Babcock was the hammer.
The Match Flipped
The first two sets? Pitt took control early. A 25-20 win in the first and a 25-22 grind in the second set the tone. SMU's defense was tough, holding Pitt to .152 hitting initially, but the Panthers adjusted. And then everything changed.
SMU showed fight in the third set with a 28-26 win, marked by 14 ties and four lead changes. The Mustangs had no answer for Babcock, but they found a way to steal a set. That rally? It was for real.
Sealing the Deal
The fourth set was all Pitt. The Panthers led early and held their ground, sealing it 25-21. Blaire Bayless chipped in with her 12th kill, pushing Pitt to a commanding lead. SMU tried a late rally, but Pitt was just too much.
With this win, Pitt not only secured their sixth victory over a ranked opponent this season but also sent a clear message: they're the real deal. Next up? Clemson better be ready.
That'll do it.
More from United Volleyball Network:
- Hawaii's Sakanoko Is Unstoppable
- Pepperdine vs. BYU: The Ultimate Test
- UC Irvine's Hosting Game? Next Level.
Source: NCAA
