Pitt, Purdue volleyball exchange scouting reports ahead of regional final showdown

A quick glance at the NCAA Tournament results for Pitt volleyball would suggest that the Panthers have steamrolled their way into the Elite Eight.

To be sure, sweeps over UMBC, Michigan and No. 4 Minnesota by the top-seeded Panthers (29-4, 18-2 ACC) have been convincing.

But heading into Saturday’s regional final at Petersen Events Center vs. No. 3 Purdue (27-6, 15-5 Big Ten), Pitt’s route to its sixth straight Elite Eight has served as a useful stress test.

“I think we’re really battle-tested,” back-to-back ACC and AVCA East Coast Region player of the pear Olivia Babcock said. “In no way does it feel like we’ve swept our way through. All these teams are playing their hardest, and if you look at the scores, it’s not like we’re blowing teams out. It’s like 25-23, a set that could really go either way.

“I feel like it’s testing us with how we can play at the end (of sets). That’s something that’s going to be really important moving into these next three rounds.”

To Babcock’s point, while Thursday’s Sweet 16 showdown between the Panthers and Gophers was over in three sets, Minnesota kept things close in set Nos. 2 and 3.

Pitt edged Minnesota, 25-23, in the second set and 25-22 in the third.

Similarly, in the second round, Michigan put up a strong fight early, falling 25-23 in the first two sets before the Panthers dominated the third set to advance.

“It just goes to show that we can do hard things, and we can do exactly what we put our minds to,” setter Brooke Mosher said. “We’ve been working hard in practices to work on what we need to work on, and it shows in games.”

Purdue, which topped Wright State, No. 6 Baylor and then No. 2 SMU in four sets Friday to reach the Elite Eight, recognizes that preparation for Pitt begins with Babcock.

However, as coach Dave Shondell aims to lead the Boilermakers to the Final Four for the first time in program history, others on Pitt’s roster also have his attention.

“Mosher, the transfer from Illinois who we’re pretty familiar with, brings them a unique player that, No. 1, serves the ball with a top spin,” said Shondell, who like Fisher earned AVCA regional coach of the year honors this year. “That’s something you have to spend a little extra time preparing for, when anyone can bring it like that. She’s a setter that will throw the ball over the floor. She’s not somebody that you can anticipate where she will set the ball to. … She’s a really good athlete.”

Versus Minnesota, Mosher kept the Gophers off balance, recording a pair of aces along with seven digs, 35 assists and a key kill in the second set.

In the first season following the graduation of four-year starter Rachel Fairbanks, Mosher has filled some big shoes effectively.

“She’s been incredibly impactful,” Fisher said. “It’s not a secret that we lost a pretty good setter last year, so there was a question mark about how fast she’d jell, how it would look and we saw a really great athlete when we recruited her. Her progression this year has been incredible. I think she’s setting the best of her life right now, and her serve is a weapon.”

Shondell and his players are diving into the film room to study the tendencies of Pitt’s standout players such as Babcock, Mosher, outside hitter Blaire Bayless and middle blocker Bre Kelley.

Fisher’s squad is doing the same.

Outside hitter Kenna Wollard, the AVCA Midwest Region Player of the Year, leads the Boilermakers with 539 kills (4.38 per set), complemented by all-Midwest selection Grace Heaney (380/3.09).

Libero Ryan McAleer and setter Taylor Anderson also made the all-Midwest squad.

In the Sweet 16 vs. SMU, Purdue trailed 17-4 in the opening set before rallying but still losing, 25-16.

From there, Purdue won the second set comfortably and closed out the match in four sets.

As the Panthers seek to advance to the national semifinal Dec. 18 in Kansas City, the path is becoming increasingly difficult.

“I think they serve well, they have three players who can hit hard and hit with range and they extend rallies,” Fisher said. “They make defensive plays, and so I think it’s going to be an exciting game. I think there’s going to be some long rallies and they also seem to be fairly low-error. They don’t wail a lot of balls out of bounds, so I think we’re going to have to earn it.”