The Panthers are heating up at just the right time. After knocking off Wright State and Ohio in straight-set victories, No. 5 Pitt closed out nonconference play with one of its biggest wins of the season — a 3–1 triumph over No. 13 Penn State, the defending national champions.
Rivalry Stakes at Rec Hall
The Pitt–Penn State rivalry is always intense, but this one carried extra weight. The Nittany Lions returned home as reigning champs, while Pitt came in trying to prove it belongs among the nation’s elite. In front of a packed Rec Hall crowd, the Panthers delivered.
Even with Penn State missing star setter Izzy Stark, Pitt still had to contend with the size, defense, and tradition of one of the sport’s most decorated programs. The Panthers responded with balance across the board — spreading the offense, serving aggressively, and refusing to let the Lions control the tempo. Winning in State College is never easy, and for Pitt to do it in four sets sent a message: this team is built for success.
Momentum Builders
Before the Penn State showdown, Pitt quietly handled business with sweeps of Wright State and Ohio. Those wins may not carry the same national spotlight, but they gave the Panthers a chance to fine-tune rotations, spread playing time, and keep momentum flowing into the marquee matchup.
ACC Challenges Await
Now the real grind begins. Pitt opens conference play with a tough road trip to Dallas for a clash with No. 11 SMU. The Mustangs have emerged as one of the ACC’s most dangerous teams and will be looking to defend their home floor against a top-five opponent.
For Pitt, it’s a chance to validate their nonconference success and start the ACC season with a statement. Every set will matter, not only for the standings but also for national seeding when NCAA Tournament time rolls around.
Big Picture
At 8–2 overall, Pitt looks like a team built for another deep postseason run. Non conference wins over Penn State, Kentucky, TCU and Arizona State prove the Panthers can go toe-to-toe with the nation’s best, and now they’ll aim to carry that confidence into the heart of ACC play.
If Pitt can navigate the SMU series with strong results, the Panthers could quickly establish themselves as the team to beat in the conference — and a legitimate contender to return to volleyball’s biggest stage.
ACC Kickoff: Double Trouble with SMU
Now, the “next level” begins. The ACC opens for Pitt with two ranked matchups against SMU — first in Dallas, then at home in Pittsburgh.
- SMU preview: The Mustangs are 8–2, ranked No. 11, and strong at home.
- ACC narrative: The conference finished its nonconference slate with a 129–55 record and 10 wins versus AVCA Top 25 squads, underlining the depth and challenge ahead.
- Home/away split: Pitt will get SMU at home after the road test, giving them a chance to defend the Petersen Events Center.
These matches will matter not just for ACC standings, but for national seeding and the perception of Pitt among top programs.