Pitt volleyball coach Dan Fisher enjoying the ride during latest trip to Sweet 16

Pitt women’s volleyball coach Dan Fisher has spent the past 11 years transforming the Panthers into a national power.

With Pitt preparing to play in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year, the Panthers coach is working to appreciate every step of the journey.

“I think I’ve gotten better at enjoying it,” Fisher said. “I’m more intentional about reminding myself about how cool it is than I would have been a few years ago. For me, personally, the Sweet 16 is a big mental hurdle. I feel like any team that makes the Sweet 16 is a good year. We have bigger goals. It’s still hard to get here. Definitely appreciative and grateful, but we aren’t done yet.”

The top-seeded Panthers (27-4) will host fourth-seeded Washington State at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Fitzgerald Field House to try to move into the Elite 8 for the fourth straight year. Pitt’s match against Washington State and a potential meeting with Louisville or Creighton on Saturday are sold out.

The Cougars (26-7) provide a major challenge. Washington State is making its eighth consecutive NCAA appearance and played a demanding schedule.

The Cougars were 7-4 against ranked opponents this season.

“We schedule tough for a moment like this,” Washington State coach Jen Greeny said. “We were on the road at Baylor and Texas, we played BYU home, and of course, we were at Louisville and lost to them the first weekend. That set us up for the rigor of Pac-12 play. That experience you are able to build on the entire year and bounce back and things like that.”

Washington State will be able to challenge Pitt thanks to the variety it has up front. Pia Timmer (414 kills), Iman Isanovic (391), Magda Jelarova (287) and Katy Ryan (280) have 250 or more kills for the Cougars.

“I think they are good at everything,” Fisher said. “They have a lot of fourth- and fifth-year players. I don’t think there is a lot of quit in them. There are things we can do to put pressure on them, but there isn’t an obvious thing to exploit.”

Pitt setter Rachel Fairbanks was named the AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year. Fairbanks was the third Pitt player to earn the honor in the past four years, joining Courtney Buzzerio (2022) and Kayla Lund (2020).

Fairbanks, who has 825 assists on the season, said they are comfortable with how they need to attack Washington State. She also has the tools to adjust if necessary.

“Everything is situational,” Fairbanks said. “We have a plan going into the game for every game. As the flow of the game continues, after the first 10 or 15 points, you are able to have a groove. As sets go on, things will change.”

Olivia Babcock, who was named AVCA Freshman of the Year, leads Pitt with 377 kills. Torrey Stafford (334 kills) and Valeria Vazquez Gomez (225) are the Panthers’ other top attackers.