No. 1 seed Pitt defeated No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA volleyball tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13 to punch its ticket to the Final Four in Kansas City.
Pitt’s had sweeps against UMBC, Michigan and Minnesota to advance. Things were a little tighter against Purdue, which pushed the match to four sets before Pitt prevailed, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17.
Senior setter Brooke Mosher, who transferred from Illinois, has 47 assists, seven digs, four block assists and three service aces to lead Pitt. The Panthers advance to the Final Four for the fifth consecutive season. Pitt will be looking for its first national championship.
‘This is incredible,’ Mosher said on the court after the match. ‘I could not ask for a better last year. Making the Final Four, it’s been my dream since I was little.’
Olivia Babcock had 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .333. Teammate Marina Pezelj added 14 kills and 12 digs.
Pitt will face the winner of Nebraska-Texas A&M (3 p.m. ET, Sunday on ABC) in the national semifinals in Kansas City on Thursday, Dec. 18.
SCORE: Pitt 3, Purdue 1
Set 4 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 17
Pitt advances to the Final Four for the fifth consecutive season.
Set 4: Pitt first to 15
The Panthers are back on track, hitting .500 in the fourth set and 10 points away from the Final Four.
Set 3 final: Purdue 25, Pitt 22
The Boilermakers push Pitt to a fourth set. Pitt hit an abysmal .167 in the third set compared to .226 for Purdue. Akasha Anderson is up to 17 kills and Kenna Wollard has added 12 kills. Ryan McAleer has 13 digs.
Set 3: Purdue first to 15 as it fights back
Akasha Anderson is up to 14 kills and Kenna Wollard has added 10 kills as the Boilermakers are working to steal a set.
Set 2 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 21
Pitt setter Brooke Mosher has 26 assists leading to 29 kills.
‘Brooke Mosher is setting one of the great matches of her career,’ Pitt coach Dan Fisher said.
Set 2: Pitt first to 15, Purdue is keeping it interesting
Olivia Babcock is dominating with 13 kills on .462 hitting. Brooke Mosher is up to 23 assists and Marina Pezelj has eight digs.
Akasha Anderson is leading the Boilermakers with 10 kills and hitting .350.
Set 1 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 22
Reigning player of the year Olivia Babcock had nine kills on .563 hitting. Pitt hit .441 for the match and Purdue .390.
Set 1: Pitt is the first to 15
The Panthers are on a 9-3 run as Purdue is rolling up the errors.
We are underway in Pittsburgh
Purdue has an early lead, looking for its first trip to the Final Four.
Purdue starters
Pitt starters
Purdue arrives in the snow
What time is Purdue vs Pitt volleyball?
The Purdue Boilermakers play the Pitt Panthers in the Elite Eight of the NCAA volleyball tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.
Purdue vs Pitt volleyball TV channel, streaming
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh)
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited