by PITTSBURGH – The No. 9 Pitt volleyball team (3-2, 0-0 ACC) recorded its second straight sweep against Pepperdine (3-2, 0-0 WCC) 25-17, 25-15, 25-18 on Friday night in the Fitzgerald Field House. Olivia Babcock led all players with 14 kills, hitting .500, and setter Brooke Mosher racked up 31 assists, seven digs, three kills, two blocks and an ace.
The Panthers got out to an impressive start in the first set, forcing Pepperdine to take an early timeout down 10-5. Pitt extended its lead to 19-12 until the Waves dialed up a four-point run, and the Panthers called a timeout. A couple of Pepperdine errors and a kill from Blaire Bayless and Ryla Jones caused Pepperdine to take its final timeout at set point. Haiti Tautua’a then dialed up an ace to give Pitt the 25-17 set one victory.
The Waves were within a point of the Panthers at 7-6, but a 5-1 run in favor of Pitt forced Pepperdine to take its first timeout of the second set. The strong serving of Mallorie Meyer allowed for Pitt to win four more points to extend the lead to 16-7. Three kills from Babcock down the stretch led the way for the Panthers to win the second set, 25-15.
Meyer’s serving and Babcock’s offense once again gave Pepperdine troubles as it needed a timeout down 8-2. The Waves fought to even the score but were unable to, calling their second and final timeout at 17-7. Pepperdine went on a 6-0 run late in the third to force Pitt to take a timeout, but a kill from Bayless and a Waves unforced error solidified the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.
