Pitt volleyball in Ultimate 4: Can Panthers lastly recover from hump?

[ad_1] KANSAS CITY, MO ― Upon arriving eventually yr's NCAA volleyball Ultimate 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Dan Fisher acquired a number of commemorative Louisville Slugger bats.

All through the 2025 season, they'd sit in his workplace in particular holders, serving as a reminder of what might have been. Final December, Pitt's title push ended shy of the championship sport. After making 4 consecutive Ultimate 4 appearances with out profitable a trophy, the No. 1 total seed fell quick ― once more. The Panthers misplaced 3-1 to the Louisville Cardinals within the semifinals and went house empty-handed.

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On Wednesday, Fisher, properly conscious that Pitt let a possible likelihood at a championship slip away, mirrored on the frustration he felt.

"I can concurrently be pleased with making the Ultimate 4 and disenchanted we did not advance," he stated. "I can maintain these two ideas without delay."

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kentucky Wildcats libero/defensive specialist Molly Tuozzo (12) and teammates rejoice after profitable the match in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kentucky Wildcats libero/defensive specialist Molly Tuozzo (12) and teammates rejoice after profitable the match in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Indiana's Charlotte Vinson (9) serves an ace to win the primary set throughout the Indiana versus Toledo NCAA First Spherical volleyball match at Wilkinson Corridor on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Indiana's Audrey Jackson (5) throughout the Indiana versus Toledo NCAA First Spherical volleyball match at Wilkinson Corridor on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Indiana's Candela Alonso-Corcelles (3) spikes the ball throughout the Indiana versus Toledo NCAA First Spherical volleyball match at Wilkinson Corridor on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Wofford Terriers center blocker Annemarie Rakoski (18) celebrates a degree with teammates throughout the second set in opposition to the Kentucky Wildcats at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kansas and Excessive Level line up earlier than their match throughout the first spherical of the NCAA DI Ladies's Volleyball Match inside Horejsi Household Volleyball Enviornment on Dec. 4, 2025.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kansas junior Aisha Aiono (24) places their workforce on the bracket after beating Excessive Level throughout the first spherical of the NCAA DI Ladies's Volleyball Match inside Horejsi Household Volleyball Enviornment on Dec. 4, 2025.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds UCLA Bruins center blocker Marianna Singletary (11) reacts throughout the first set in opposition to the Kentucky Wildcats at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Dec 5, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats setter Kassie O'Brien (6) celebrates a degree throughout the first set in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Dec 5, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats libero/defensive specialist Molly Tuozzo (12) serves the ball throughout the second set in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Dec 5, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats libero/defensive specialist Trinity Ward (1) dives for the ball throughout the third set in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Dec 5, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats exterior hitter Asia Thigpen (20) hits the ball throughout the third set in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kentuckyâ€™s Eva Hudson (7) congratulates Brooklyn DeLeye for scoring in opposition to UCLA within the 2nd spherical of the NCAA Match at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Dec 5, 2025

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Kills, spike and digs: See greatest pictures of NCAA volleyball match early rounds Kentuckyâ€™s Molly Berezowitz (11) will get an ace in opposition to UCLA within the 2nd spherical of the NCAA Match at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Dec 5, 2025

The balancing act of holding house for delight and disappointment has seemingly been one thing the Panthers coach and his workforce have been silently juggling all season. In some unspecified time in the future, it in all probability needed to develop into a small a part of what fueled them to get again to volleyball's largest stage and return for a fifth straight Ultimate 4 ― even when they could by no means admit it out loud. A number of alternatives to win a championship do not occur usually, and when a workforce cannot convey house any {hardware}, the questions on profitable inevitably develop into louder.

Will Pitt ever be the "bride" and never the "bridesmaid"? Is that this the yr the Panthers lastly put all of it collectively?

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Six complete gamers on the 2025 Ultimate 4 have expertise enjoying at this degree. Fisher's roster has 5 of the six Ultimate 4 veterans. Pitt reverse Olivia Babcock and center blocker Bre Kelley have been to 2 prior Ultimate Fours. A number of different Panthers gamers have been to at the least one. Wisconsin Badgers center blocker Carter Sales space, with one look, is the remaining participant. With so many younger and new faces on all 4 match rosters, Pitt's expertise might show beneficial if it needs to succeed in the nationwide championship on Sunday. Babcock addressed the potential benefit throughout Wednesday's Panthers press convention.

"Since so many individuals have been right here earlier than, we have been in a position to put together the newer gamers coming into this expertise what to anticipate," Babcock stated. "We're additionally in a position to simply remind them always that despite the fact that there might be a whole lot of media ― issues there would not usually be ― keep locked in on the objective at hand. It is extremely straightforward to get distracted. I believe these gamers are going to assist our newer gamers be capable of hone in on the duty."

Babcock confused that it is an honor to be on the Ultimate 4 stage. Nonetheless, she says the Panthers are targeted. Their preparation has been higher, together with how they follow and scout opponents and visualize matches. Kelley shed a bit extra mild on how the Panthers are staying grounded as they method Thursday's semifinal match.

"Up to now, I really feel like we have all the time made it a degree that we have now to win the Ultimate 4. This yr, we have now actually emphasised, particularly with our sports activities psychologist, to play ball," Kelley stated. "Clearly, we're making an attempt to embrace this second and be the place our ft are. This sport is meant to be enjoyable. It isn't alleged to be severely taxing in your thoughts and physique."

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The Panthers revealed that the workforce has damaged down each intense matchup, way back to a September regular-season sweep in opposition to the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats, to only one level at a time. The workforce stated even in a dominant 3-0 win like that one, the main target this yr has been on being "good" after getting to twenty factors in a set. As soon as the Panthers get to that time, Babcock says they're "in a position to flip a change". Then, it turns into a matter of which workforce will get to 25 first. She believes that if Pitt is enjoying "the most effective factors of (their lives)", they're going to discover a whole lot of success. Fisher gave the impression to be in lockstep with that thought course of.

"The principle message is simply to remain within the second," he stated. "Together with that, we have been referring to it earlier about what's totally different about this workforce, and I believe once we're enjoying our greatest, we're actually good. So simply realizing that we do not know what the result might be, however we actually understand how good we could be..."

Pitt takes on No. 3 Texas A&M throughout the 2025 NCAA volleyball Ultimate 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Pitt volleyball reaches Ultimate 4 once more however can it win championship?

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Pitt volleyball in Ultimate 4: Can Panthers lastly recover from hump?

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