After Pitt volleyball dispatched Purdue on Dec. 13 in the Elite Eight to advance to a fifth straight national semifinal, the Panthers sat tight for a day and awaited the results that would determine their Final Four foe.

Volleyball fans in and outside of Pittsburgh likely anticipated it being the undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers, which would have set up a third Final Four showdown between the programs since 2021.

Instead, the top-seeded Huskers were stunned by No. 3 Texas A&M in five sets, suffering their first defeat of the year and propelling the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament semifinal against the Panthers (30-4) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“I think it’s just a good reminder that everyone’s good at this point and to not really look at the jersey you’re playing, but to stay focused on doing your best in the moment,” Pitt coach Dan Fisher said.

Nebraska had denied Pitt a shot at a national championship in 2021 and 2023 while Louisville defeated Pitt in the Final Four in 2022 and 2024.

But both of the Panthers’ prior antagonists aren’t in this year’s field.

Were Pitt to defeat Texas A&M (27-4) at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, the Panthers would play for their first national championship Sunday against either No. 1 Kentucky or Wisconsin, who square off at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Regardless, the Aggies aren’t being viewed as an easier task, especially having just downed arguably the nation’s best team, one that had lost a total of seven sets in 33 prior matches.

“They’re playing really well right now,” Fisher said of Texas A&M. “They’re scrappy, and there’s going to be a lot of long rallies. We’re going to have to stay in it emotionally.”

Right-side hitter Olivia Babcock has known nothing but the Final Four during her time at Pitt.

The two-time ACC and AVCA East Coast Region player of the year, who is up for her second straight National Player of the Year Award from the AVCA on Friday, has helped propel Pitt to the national semifinals the last two years, since her freshman campaign in 2023.

Liv is a three-time AVCA First Team All-American ???? pic.twitter.com/o8itQ0eaAV

— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) December 17, 2025

And now she's an @AVCAVolleyball Second Team All-American! ???? pic.twitter.com/ITB7veG9Wl

— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) December 17, 2025

Breezy is an AVCA Honorable mention All-American! pic.twitter.com/WrQ9s6f48l

— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) December 17, 2025

Fisher, Babcock and the rest of the Panthers are hopeful that 2025 is their year to punch through and reach the title game.

“It’s so special,” Babcock said. “I feel like we’re making it through these tournament games. Obviously, it’s taking a lot out of us, we’re still not playing our best volleyball, but we’re still finding ways to win. That’s what excites me the most.

“This team has so much potential and I feel like over the next two games — next game, obviously, one day at a time — but in the next game, we’re really going to reach that potential. Texas A&M is such a good team, so we know it’s going to take a lot out of us and we know it’s going to be a really hard battle.”

Babcock, who also earned All-American honors from the AVCA for the third time Wednesday, certainly hasn’t done it alone.

Blaire Bayless and Dagmar Mourits have averaged north of two kills per set this season, complemented by Marina Pezelj (1.61), Bre Kelley (1.52), Sophia Gregoire (1.43) and Ryla Jones (1.30).

Setter Brooke Mosher has meshed well in her first year after transferring from Illinois while contributing a team-best 1,216 assists and 242 digs, second to only Babcock (258).

Kelley has been a strong presence at the net all year, posting 161 blocks.

“Fun and gritty,” Babcock said, describing the Panthers’ style of play. “I think we have a lot of fun playing together, and we’re put in a lot of hard moments where it takes every single one of us, and we’re able to all step up to the occasion and pull through.”

The recent success of Pitt volleyball has created sky-high expectations.

For the fifth straight season, the Panthers are a win away from playing for a national championship.

“This is the last week of the journey of this team,” Fisher said. “We started off with two goals: One was to win an ACC championship and one was to win a national championship. We’re thrilled to get another hack at it.”

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