Pitt volleyball onto Sweet 16 for 4th consecutive season after defeating USC

Stifling the attack of USC outside hitter Skylar Fields was likely never an option for the Pitt women’s volleyball team. But putting up an aggressive and consistent block helped make Fields, a first-team All-American hitter, work for opportunities to score.

Fields finished with 10 attack errors for the first time since October, and Pitt picked up a 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18) win Saturday at Petersen Events Center. Fields, who finished with double-figure attack errors four times this season, hadn’t done so since she finished with 10 during a Trojans’ loss to Colorado on Oct. 27.

Fields finished with a match-high 21 kills but hit only .200, below her .296 season percentage. Pitt coach Dan Fisher was happy with the pressure they put on her.

“She usually hits over .300, and we held her to .200 and she made a few errors and we could make her uncomfortable,” Fisher said. “They made a switch in the fourth set, and she was matched with Rachel (Fairbanks) and we still found a way even there to slow her down at times. She’s not someone you are going to stop.”

Fields said she didn’t notice what Pitt’s defensive strategy was.

“I attack every game the exact same way,” Fields said. “I give my all to my teammates. It’s a team game, and I can’t do everything. We fought, and we battled. We do that every day. I just tried to encourage my teammates to give everything they have.”

Having the capability to implement such a strategy has top-seeded Pitt (27-4) moving on to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season. Pitt will host the winner of Washington State and Dayton in the next round Thursday at Fitzgerald Field House.

This was the first time Pitt beat USC (19-13) in four tries.

Olivia Babcock was Pitt’s top hitter, finishing with 16 kills. Babcock enjoyed the atmosphere, as there was a crowd of 4,639 on hand.

“The more I thought about it, as the game progressed, I thought every game from this point on is season-ending,” Babcock said. “That’s when I was like, I have to go out and do my thing. I know when I’m on my game it reflects on everyone else. We all pick each other up.”

Torrey Stafford added 13 kills for the Panthers. Pitt made eight attack errors and four service errors in the first set. Not being in sync allowed the Trojans to hang around.

With Pitt ahead 22-20, USC ripped off a 4-0 run keyed by two kills from Fields to surge ahead. The Trojans would block a kill attempt by Babcock to win the first set 25-23.

Pitt ran away in the back half of the second set. The Panthers took advantage of a service error with the set tied at 16-16 to go ahead. That kicked off a 4-0 run for Pitt, culminating with a block by Emma Monks and Babcock.

Chiamaka Nwokolo closed the set win for Pitt with a block that was part of a 3-0 run.

“We were really able to get them uncomfortable in serve-receive, and that set up our defense,” Fisher said.

Pitt dominated the third set that saw only one lead change. The Panthers went ahead for good on a kill by Nwokolo that gave them a 5-4 lead. While the Trojans rallied late in the set, consecutive kills from Babcock gave Pitt a 25-18 set win.

Pitt closed the match with a furious rally in the fourth set. USC had gained momentum to tie the set at 14-14 after a block by Lindsey Miller and Mia Tuaniga. After a timeout, Pitt ran off six straight points to put the match out of reach.

Valeria Vazquez Gomez’s service ace capped the 6-0 run for Pitt. Babcock credited setter Fairbanks, who finished with 41 assists, for the surge.

“I think it was Rachel,” Babcock said. “Rachel played a huge part in us flipping the switch. She would be guys, ‘Let’s go.’ Something about Rachel’s energy, if she says let’s go, we need to flip the switch.”