Pitt Volleyball Lands Two Nationally Televised Games

The University of Pittsburgh volleyball team will play two nationally televised games during the 2023 season, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced on Wednesday. The Panthers will host No. 1 Louisville on ESPNU on Sept. 22 and travel to Clemson for a match on ACC Network on Oct. 27.

Pitt’s National Spotlight

This is the first time that Pitt volleyball will play two nationally televised games in the same season. The Panthers have only appeared on national television once before, when they played at No. 1 Penn State in 2019.

Pitt head coach Dan Fisher is excited about the opportunity to showcase his team on a national stage.

“This is a great opportunity for our program to get some national exposure,” Fisher said. “We have a lot of talented players on this team, and I think we can make some noise this season.”

The Panthers are coming off a 20-12 season in which they finished fourth in the ACC. Pitt returns three All-ACC selections in senior outside hitter Kayla Lund, junior middle blocker Serena Gray, and sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks.

Louisville and Clemson Matchups

Pitt will face a tough test in its first nationally televised game of the season. Louisville is the defending national champion and is ranked No. 1 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll.

The Panthers will then travel to Clemson for their second nationally televised game. Clemson is a perennial contender in the ACC and is ranked No. 13 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll.

Impact on Pitt Volleyball

The two nationally televised games will give Pitt volleyball a chance to reach a wider audience and showcase its program. The Panthers hope that the exposure will help them attract more recruits and build a stronger fan base.

“We’re hoping that these two games will help us take our program to the next level,” Fisher said. “We want to be a top-25 program, and we think that these games will help us get there.”

Conclusion

Pitt volleyball is poised for a breakout season in 2023. The Panthers have a talented team and a favorable schedule. The two nationally televised games will give Pitt a chance to showcase its program and reach a wider audience. If the Panthers can perform well in these games, they could make a run at the NCAA Tournament.