After three NCAA nationwide volleyball semis in a row, No. 4 Pitt goals larger

Most coaches are loath to replicate on their accomplishments whereas nonetheless within the prime of their careers. 

So when requested if this was what he envisioned for this system when he took over 12 years in the past, Pitt’s Dan Fisher, usually considerate and erudite in his solutions to the media, responded in easier phrases.

“It’s most likely greater than I envisioned,” he mentioned. “I used to be simply attempting to make playoffs and never get fired.”

There’s little probability of that taking place within the foreseeable future. Not for a coach who has taken his group to the final three NCAA nationwide semifinals.

Since taking up in 2013, Fisher has constructed his personal nationwide energy on high of so-called Cardiac Hill in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.

And as Pitt embarks on the 2024 season, expectations are maybe larger than they ever have been. Whereas the ultimate 4 groups of 2021 and 2022 featured a largely rotating solid of characters – notably on the pins – this group will look rather a lot just like the 2023 group that received 29 matches and a second straight ACC title (the Panthers’ fifth since 2017).

There’s sixth-year exterior hitter Valeria Vazquez Gomez, the 6-foot-1 Puerto Rican who earned second-team All-ACC honors after averaging 2.27 kills and 1.96 digs per set whereas recording 34 aces. She was a VolleyballMag third-team All-American in 2022.

There’s 6-2 grad exterior hitter Cat Flood, the consummate function participant from Wilmette, Illinois, who simply might have spent her fifth yr at a program the place she may get extra touches however as a substitute returned to Pitt.

There’s 6-foot senior setter/proper aspect Rachel Fairbanks, the 2023 ACC Setter of the 12 months and VolleyballMag second-team All-American from Tustin, California, who has performed greater than 300 units in her profession.

And there’s senior libero/defensive specialist Emmy Klika, an All-ACC second-teamer and VBM honorable point out All-American who averaged greater than three digs per set.

“They’ve been in huge moments,” mentioned Fisher, whose group was ranked No. 4 within the AVCA preseason ballot behind Texas (1), Nebraska (2) and Wisconsin (3). “They’ve succeeded in huge moments. I believe they bring about a stage of self-belief.”

However, regardless of their glowing resumes, are usually not even the group’s most gifted gamers.

Final yr’s unimaginable freshman trio are actually sophomores.

— Olivia Babcock, a 6–5 proper aspect from Los Angeles who stored statisticians busy with 3.62 kills per set, a .306 hitting proportion, 51 aces and 1.08 blocks per set. She earned nearly each award possible, together with  being named VolleyballMag’s Freshman of the 12 months and a first-team All-American. And, together with Fairbanks, she bought into the USA ladies’s nationwide coaching health club.

— Torrey Stafford, a 6-2 exterior hitter from Torrance, California, who put up 3.26 kills per set whereas hitting at a .273 clip. She earned first-team All-ACC honors and was a VBM fourth-team All-American.

— Blaire Bayless, a 6-2 exterior from Plano, Texas, who noticed restricted motion with the Panthers final season however was on the USA U21 group that received a gold medal on the NORCECA Continental Championship. Babcock additionally was a part of that group.

Little surprise Pitt was picked to complete first within the ACC preseason ballot.

Stress?

“We speak about strain being a privilege,” Stafford mentioned. “We prepare for it, so once we’re within the huge moments, it’s simply form of pure for us. We signed up for it.”

Fisher mentioned Babcock’s and Bayless’ expertise with USA Volleyball will likely be invaluable and that Babock is able to take it up a stage.

“I don’t assume she’s feeling numerous strain for issues which can be up to now as a result of her aspirations are a lot larger,” Fisher mentioned. “She needs to play within the Olympics … And I can let you know this: She’s method higher proper now than she was a yr in the past.

“She’s been concerned within the decrease ranges (of USA Volleyball) earlier than, however primarily based on the season she had, she was invited to symbolize the senior nationwide group. It was a bunch (USA ladies’s coach Karch Kiraly) felt who have been gamers in faculty now who probably have an opportunity on the 2028 Olympics. And he or she was the one freshman invited to that group.

“I believe that claims rather a lot.”

Bayless, in the meantime, ended up being a key a part of the U21 group that defeated Puerto Rico for the NORCECA title. Within the title match, she had three kills, a block and an ace. In an earlier match towards Suriname, she had 4 kills, three aces and a block.

“I believe it ended up being actually good for her,” Fisher mentioned. “I believe she went in most likely considering she wouldn’t play rather a lot, however I believe she went in and ended up enjoying rather a lot in each sport and enjoying a good quantity of proper aspect.”

Stafford is getting again to full pace after having surgical procedure on her leg within the offseason. Fisher mentioned he was impressed by how diligently Stafford labored to recuperate, and he anticipates a giant step ahead for her as effectively.

Stafford mentioned in the course of the occasions she was restricted in what she might do bodily, she labored on her psychological sport.

“I form of did extra psychological reps,” she mentioned. “I used to be getting via (the damage) and getting my thoughts proper, so now I’m simply build up my physicality for the season.”

Fairbanks had the great fortune of establishing the likes of Stafford and Babcock, and he or she marveled at how shortly they established themselves.

“In case you take a look at their efficiency final yr, it was superb,” Fairbanks mentioned. “A number of the greatest pins within the nation, and so they have been simply freshmen. And that was within the fall. Now we’ve had a complete spring of coaching and being coached by Fish and our teaching workers, and I believe they’re simply going to go up from right here.

“They haven’t peaked but.”

Whereas Pitt has stability and depth everywhere in the court docket, there may be one place that may be a bit unsettled: center blocker.

Essentially the most skilled center, rising junior Rachel Jepsen, paused her eligibility to do an 18-month Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission journey. Which means one in all three freshmen – Argentinian Bianca Garibaldi, Romanian Dalia Virlan or Ryla Jones, from Fort Washington, Maryland – and/or redshirt junior Bre Kelley.

Jones, a 6-2 product of Michigan’s Flint Hill Excessive College, was among the many early standouts in preseason exercises, Fisher mentioned.

Kelley, a product of Rockwall, Texas, is an intriguing risk. At 6-4, she was a preseason All-ACC choose earlier than the 2023 season, however her marketing campaign was reduce brief after solely 4 matches due to an damage. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, she performed in 31 matches, recording no less than 4 blocks in 15 of them, together with a 10-block effort towards Stanford.

And talking of the Cardinal, that brings up an additional diploma of problem for the Panthers as they pursue their third consecutive ACC title. The seismic shift in Energy 5 conferences introduced Stanford, Cal and SMU into the ACC.

Stanford comes east with an NCAA Division I-high 9 NCAA titles, the final in 2019. SMU went 18-1 within the American Athletic Convention final season and superior to the second spherical of the NCAA Event.

Stanford was picked second within the preseason ACC ballot, and SMU was sixth.

As if the likes of Louisville, Florida State and Georgia Tech didn’t current sufficient of a problem.

“Once we did the pre-conference voting for who could be the preseason all-conference gamers, you begin taking a look at Stanford’s roster and SMU and also you say, that is fairly onerous to get down (to 18 gamers),” Fisher mentioned. “That was the second I assumed, ‘Man, we’ve bought some actually good gamers on this convention.’ ”

However, for now, no less than, the street to the highest of the ACC runs via Pittsburgh. In the end, nonetheless, the Panthers have larger targets in thoughts, particularly getting over that hump into the nationwide title sport.

Pitt has come up brief in three earlier possibilities. 

In 2021 nationwide semis, Pitt misplaced to Nebraska in 4.

In 2022, the Panthers misplaced an epic five-set battle to Louisville.

After which final yr, after pulling off a reverse sweep on Louisville within the regional last to get there, Pitt misplaced to Nebraska once more, this time in a sweep.

“We now have so many returners, now we have so many individuals who know what it’s prefer to be at a last 4 and compete in strain conditions,” Fairbanks mentioned. “Together with that … I believe our new individuals are bringing in a lot expertise additionally that anybody we placed on the court docket, we might win.

“It’s a mixture of stamina and resilience over time, and I believe all of us care an immense quantity. It’s carrying that care right through the top of December.”

Added Vazquez Gomez: “We now have confidence, however we’re not complacent. We nonetheless have a mission to perform, and we nonetheless have to work on a pair issues that we didn’t do final yr and will certainly assist us win a nationwide championship this yr.”

Fairbanks mentioned Pitt will go into this season because it has another: with an underdog mentality.

That appears odd for a group that has been to a few consecutive nationwide semifinals and received 90 matches in that span.

“We haven’t received the natty but,” Fairbanks mentioned, “so we’re nonetheless an underdog.”