College Volleyball Shocker as SMU Ends Pitt's Perfect Season |
SMU volleyball snaps a 58-match home streak and leaves Pitt volleyball chasing answers before a quick rematch |
One loss can flip a whole season's storyline, and SMU just handed one to the last team anyone expected to blink at home.
The sixth-ranked Mustangs walked into Pittsburgh on Wednesday night and beat No. 2 Pitt in four sets, wiping out the Panthers' perfect record.
It also ended a 58-match home winning streak, the longest in the country.
For college volleyball fans, this was the match circled on the calendar, with both teams unbeaten in ACC play and tournament seeding on the line.
Pitt opened like the title contender it is, taking the first set 25-21.
Then SMU volleyball tightened up its defense, held the nation's top offense to a .194 hitting clip in the second set and evened things at 25-19.
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 Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels. Stock image for illustration, not from the SMU-Pitt match. Free to use under the Pexels License. |
The third set was pure chaos in the best way.
It ran 48 minutes and 74 combined points, with 21 ties, five lead changes and a defensive specialist pressed into front-row duty when the substitutions ran out.
Middles Favor Anyanwu and Natalie Newsome took over late, and Newsome slammed the door with three straight kills.
The Mustangs kept their composure through a scrappy fourth set to stretch their conference winning streak to 14.
Pitt volleyball did not leave empty-handed, at least in the record book.
Senior opposite Olivia Babcock became the program's career leader in both service aces and kills during the match.
That is a bittersweet night for one of the sport's biggest stars.
Nobody should write the Panthers off, because one October loss does not decide a national championship.
The quick turnaround may be the best part, since the two teams meet again Sunday in Dallas.
The upset left top-ranked Nebraska as the only undefeated team in Division I.
The Huskers answered Saturday by sweeping a top-10 Wisconsin squad, so the last perfect record in the country is still standing. |
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21 ties and five lead changes in one set is basically a whole match crammed into one set. My nerves could not handle that.
Olivia Babcock breaking program records in kills and aces on the same night and still losing. That is genuinely heartbreaking. Class player.
Holding Pitt to a .194 hitting clip is borderline unreal when you consider how good their offense is. SMU's defense deserves way more credit here.
I was there. The arena was so loud in that third set and then just completely quiet when it ended. Gutting honestly.
I had no idea SMU even had a top volleyball program. Definitely going to follow them now after reading this.
Pitt opened taking the first set and I thought okay here we go, blowout incoming. Then SMU just completely changed the match. Impressive coaching adjustment.
My daughter plays club ball in Dallas and we are absolutely going to that rematch Sunday. Cannot miss this.
Favor Anyanwu stepping up huge in that third set. She has been quietly great all season and deserves more attention.
Both teams unbeaten in ACC play before this and it took four sets to decide it. That is exactly the kind of match the conference needed.
That third set went 48 minutes. A whole episode of TV. Absolutely wild set of volleyball.
Nebraska still undefeated and just swept a top 10 Wisconsin team. The Huskers are in a different universe right now.
Sunday in Dallas is going to be electric. I am buying tickets today if I can find any.
One loss in October means nothing for Pitt. Everyone needs to calm down. They will be fine by tournament time.
Newsome with three straight kills to close out that third set. That is a moment she will remember forever.
Sunday's rematch in Dallas is going to be absolutely electric. Pitt will come in angry and that is a dangerous team.
That defensive specialist getting pressed into front row duty when subs ran out is the most chaotic volleyball thing I have ever heard. Love it.
Babcock breaks two career records on the same night her team loses the home streak. That has to sting so much.
Proud of this team even in a loss. Babcock breaking two program records on the same night says everything about her career.
I was at the Fitzgerald and the energy was unreal until it wasn't. Gutting way to lose a 58 game streak honestly.
SMU does not get enough credit nationally. People sleep on the Mustangs every single year and then act surprised when this happens.
74 combined points in one set?? My heart would not have survived that in person.
A 58-match home streak gone just like that. I still can't believe it. That third set sounds absolutely insane.
SMU does not get enough credit. People sleep on them every year and then they go pull off something like this.
74 points in one set and 21 ties?? I would have had a heart attack watching that live. What a match.