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Pitt Volleyball 2025

It's now been a week since the NCAA semis...
In retrospect, I believe all 4 teams were capable of beating one another. 'Though Penn State certainly wouldn't have been my odds-on favorite to win the title.
I'm sure that Nebraska, Penn State, Louisville + the 5 and 6 teams, Stanford and Creighton are all looking to reload/upgrade their teams. Regretfully, I don't think Pitt's 2025 front-line players (i.e., starters) will be an upgrade from 2024. The good news is that the return of the core group of Babcock and Safford + the 2 MBs. Assuming no health challenges, they should only get better.
-Fairbanks - I think the best we can hope for from the Haiti/Mosher combination is to APPROACH Fairbanks' level of play. No way will it be an upgrade. Both on and off the floor, her leadership presence will be missed.
-Klicka - With all of the "uneven" feedback on the volleyball thread about her performance vis-a-via other top liberos, Fisher was always very supportive and complimentary of her play (at least in public). Again, at best, unless Meyer/Dupes are real surprises, I think the best to hope for is flat year-to-year performance.
-VVG - I would have hoped to see a 6 rotation player come in through the portal. So it appears that for now, Bayliss will move into this slot. However, despite some of VVG's occasional back row errors, Bayliss will be a downgrade defensively. She certainly didn't step up when Pitt could have really used a jump start in the 4th vs. Louisville - if I recall, two receiving errors and a 000 hitting %. While she has a bigger arm that VVG, she'll have to become far less predictable than going full tilt cross-court.
*In addition to these personnel changes, I think the team, collectively (with the exception of Babcock and Meyer), needs to be more aggressive serving. Especially against elite teams. In the semis (and vs. OK or Oregon for that matter), I think Pitt was out of system far more than Louisville. In a match where sets 2 and 3 were even, as Fisher said in his post-game interview, they didn't win a few big points. They won those points all season.

Last Night's youtube live broadcast

Chris and Jim, enjoyed the show and value your insights but I have to disagree somewhat on the take that all Pitt has to worry about competing with is ACC Teams and not worry about tOSU, Michigan, Alabama, Oregon, etc.

Sure they can make the playoff by winning the ACC but to go to the playoff as just fodder as a road opponent where we supply the stadium's fans with the "Washington Generals" is not entirely appealing. Would it be better than losing to a MAC team in Detroit? Sure. However, Pitt winning the "Big Least Part Deux" every once in a while and getting rolled in the playoff should not be the goal.

I would also say that you do have to worry about and try to compete with the big time programs, if you have one or two on the regular season schedule and you win a game like that, it's going to position you better in the playoff, where maybe you get a bye and/or a better seed.

I realize it's a tough row to hoe but I think Pitt has to approach things with a little more big picture thinking - and hopefully some answers - than just backing in as an ACC Team and being a one and done. Yes, winning the ACC is the first step but also have to be thinking and preparing beyond that.

Team with $20 million/year player payroll wins NC

And Im sure this game will break ratings records which is why I laugh when people say if these programs disassociate with the universities and become fully professional, less people will watch. No. People arent watching these games because these players have class tomorrow. They watch these games because the USA is football obsessed and these are well-known famous brands. They will still be well-known famous brands when the players dont have to attend class or even be enrolled in school.
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Pitt @ WVU 1/12

Big rivalry dual, we need to get one back after losing the last one two years ago.
125: Babin v. Stickenberger
Stick was up at 133 earlier this year. He has since come back down to 125 where he is a past NCAA qualifier. These two have never hit directly, and they have similar common opponents. TOSS UP

133: Chappell v. Maddox
Tebo is a 125 wrestling up, but Maddox is a senior who has never had a great record and was the backup until Stick dropped. Hard to tell but I think Tebo can keep it close and pull a win off potentially. TOSS UP

141: Ant/Priest v. Titus
Whoever we send out here is probably in a 50/50 match. Titus is on a downswing this year, with 1 win in his last 8. However he has some great past wins, including beating Cole in the last dual v. WVU when he was ranked no.1 overall. TOSS UP

149: Solomon v. Hillegas
Finn gets Hillegas who is a 5th year. He is 4-6 on the year and has dropped 4 straight. He can give Finn some problems but I would expect for Finn to get it done. PITT FAVORED

157: Evans v. Gavronsky
Gavronsky has a winning record on the year but is 2-6 in his last eight. He could potentially push Evans but the Evans I have seen this year is someone I would expect to win this. PITT FAVORED

165: Keslar v. Hall
Hall is a returning AA who has been on a really good run this year. He is 19-0 and has 57% bonus rate. I would expect him to win and get WVU bonus points. WVU FAVROED

174: Augustine v. Conley
Luca won 3-2 over Conley last time they faced off. Conley is 8-3 on the year with some solid wins. I would hope Luca wins and wins comfortably, but based on their common results I think it will come down to a few sequences. TOSS UP

184: Heller v. Robin
Robin is 16-5 on the year, but all 5 losses are by fall, tech or major. He is someone who is vulnerable to give up points and while he has some good wins on the year, I would expect Reece to win again, but maybe close. PITT FAVORED

197: Stout v. Bush
Stout likely has Bush who was a 184 all year but has been at 197 for the last two duals. He has 1 win and 1 loss at 197. Stout has looked great recently and I would expect him to come out and get a bonus win in this won. PITT FAVORED

285: Pitzer v. Wolfgram
Pitzer won by major last time these two faced. He hasn't been as dominant this season but he should still get the win. PITT FAVORED

5 Pitt Favored, 4 Toss Up, 1 WVU Toss Up
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