Pitt volleyball's revamped roster aims to get up to speed for another deep NCAA run

There’s a paradox about the Pitt women’s volleyball team: The Panthers are coming off their fourth consecutive appearance in the national semifinals, yet that source of pride also is a source of pain.

Being so consistently strong is nice, but the Panthers long to kick in the door to the national final.

“The returning players who have made it to the final four two years in a row, we, obviously, want to look past that point, and we’re looking at a national championship,” said redshirt senior middle blocker Bre Kelley. “But we’re really focused on the process right now because it’s such a new team.”

The roster has undergone a major overhaul. Longtime core players such as Rachel Fairbanks, Valeria Vazquez Gomez, Emmy Klika and Cat Flood graduated. Torrey Stafford, an American Volleyball Coaches Association first-team selection, transferred to Texas.

Only eight of the 15 women on the roster have seen action in a Panthers uniform, and three of those — middle blocker Dalia Virlan, right side/setter Kiana Dunn and setter Haiti Tuatua’a — played a combined 25 sets last season. (Tuatua’a played in 42 sets as a freshman but missed last season with an injury.)

Despite the Panthers being voted the preseason favorite to win the ACC and third in the AVCA preseason poll, 13th-year coach Dan Fisher recognizes it might take a little time for this group to click.

“Going into last year, I would say there was two starting spots that I was kind of unsure about … that were up for grabs,” said Fisher, who has 320 career wins at Pitt. “Now I would say that there’s only two starting spots that I’m pretty sure about.”

One of the those is at right-side hitter, where AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock slots in. The 6-foot-4 rising junior averaged 4.72 kills per set, 1.82 digs per set, 1.12 blocks per set and had 71 service aces. And she might be even better this season.

She spent time with the U.S. women’s national program over the summer, and that helped her to expand her game.

“I feel like just playing at that level, you see a lot of things you don’t see as often in college volleyball,” she said. “I had to find new solutions and find new things. I feel like having those new skills to bring here to Pitt … is really going to take us to the next level.”

Added Fisher: “She probably is a little more creative with her shot selection, so I think she has a few more tricks of how to get some points.”

There’s more returning firepower beyond Babcock. Kelley made the AVCA second team after averaging 1.88 kills per set and hitting .497. Complementing Kelley in the middle is sophomore Ryla Jones (1.18, .393).

Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Mallorie Meyer played in 84 sets last season and is poised for a bigger role, as is junior outside hitter Blaire Bayless, who averaged 1.01 kills per set over 89 sets.

Even though several players are new to Pitt’s program, they are no strangers to high-level competition. Tops among them is setter Brooke Mosher, who had 932 assists and 43 aces for Illinois, where she spent her first three seasons.

“She really, really wants to connect with us,” Kelley said. “She just wants everything to jell, so she’s in here with us before and after practice.”

Redshirt sophomore outside Sophia Gregorie spent her first two seasons at Oregon, where, last season, she registered 51 kills.

The back line will be fortified by redshirt senior libero/defensive specialist Emery Dupes, who played at ACC rival Florida State and was the first freshman all-conference libero in program history.

Pitt also brought in a pair of seasoned international players: outside hitters Dagmar Mourits (Netherlands) and Marina Prezelj (France). Mourits, 21, has played in her country’s top volleyball division, and Prezelj was on the Volleyball Nations League roster for France and plays in the French first division.

“Those two are used to playing at a very high level and in pressure situations,” Fisher said.

Added Babcock: “The international game is a little different, but I think it’s making us better and just seeing some new stuff we don’t always see in our gym is really helping us to expect the unexpected this season.”

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Izzy Masten might be a wild card. The Indiana native is still only 17, having graduated from high school a year early, but Fisher called her a “special player.”

Pitt will be tested right out of the gate, opening Aug. 22 at preseason No. 1 Nebraska. On Sept. 17, the Panthers visit reigning national champion Penn State. In between, their opponents include Florida, TCU, Arizona State and Kentucky, all of which won at least one match in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

It’s a daunting schedule for a group that is still finding its identity. But Kelley said facing tough opponents will be crucial as the Panthers build toward where they ultimately want to go. Finally.

“We’re trying to get everything in and learn and focus on the process and the outcomes rather than the accolades,” Kelley said. “Because if you focus on the process, the accolades will come.”