Virginia volleyball has exploded onto the college volleyball scene this season and is currently on pace for its strongest record since 2003. Now in the midst of ACC play, the Cavaliers have already claimed impressive wins against No. 16 Florida State, Miami and Syracuse. This week at home, however, Virginia will face arguably its two toughest opponents yet — No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. 12 Southern Methodist.
Over the course of this season, the Cavaliers have fought for a gradual ascent into the American Volleyball Coaches Association polls. Virginia has now received honorable mention votes outside of the top 25 for four straight weeks. On the other hand, Pittsburgh has received the top ranking in the AVCA rankings for eight straight weeks.
The Panthers hold an impressive 19-1 record and a 9-1 mark in the ACC. Not only have they consistently taken down opponents — including three in the top five — but they have only dropped seven total sets in 2024. Nearly 85 percent of Pittsburgh’s wins have been sweeps.
Much of this success has been led by sophomore outside hitter Olivia Babcock and senior setter Rachel Fairbanks. Babcock was named the AVCA National Player of the Week last week after a dominant performance in the Panthers’ win against No. 5 Stanford, boasting 17 kills and 10 blocks. Fairbanks has received three ACC Setter of the Week honors this season, the most recent one coming this past week after Pittsburgh’s wins against No. 3 Louisville and Notre Dame.
Virginia’s Friday face off against the Panthers will be a match that is sure to require complete focus and determination from the Cavaliers. A win would mark their first win against the Panthers since 2015 — not to mention Virginia’s first win against a top-ranked opponent in program history.
To pull off a historic upset, the Cavaliers will have to get strong performances and elite composure from veteran players including senior libero Milan Gomillion, senior outside hitter Elayna Duprey and senior outside hitter Brooklyn Borum. Coach Shannon Wells has cited Virginia’s entire senior class as key to its success this season, and the Cavaliers will rely on them for success against Pittsburgh.
As for the Mustangs, they have followed Virginia’s path and discovered newfound success this season. With a 15-6 record overall and a 7-3 mark in conference play, this year is Southern Methodist’s first time in program history being ranked inside the top 25. The Mustangs currently sit at No. 12 in the national rankings, but were at their highest Oct. 20 when the AVCA ranked them No. 7.
Most notably, the Mustangs are the only team to beat the Panthers this season. Southern Methodist defeated Pittsburgh in a tight five-set matchup Oct. 12 in its ACC home opener. The Mustangs have demonstrated an impressive ability to compete with any team in front of them, and they may prove just as difficult to beat as Pittsburgh.
To pull off a win against Southern Methodist, the Cavaliers will have to thwart key players including a duo of graduate transfers — outside hitter Maya Tabron, a transfer from Colorado, and outside hitter Naya Shime, who transferred from Wyoming. Shime was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 7, while Tabron has recorded eight double-doubles this season.
Earning ranked wins in a row this weekend will certainly not be easy for Virginia. But the Cavaliers are no stranger to playing the underdog role, as they have consistently pulled off upset wins this season and surprised the volleyball world with their unprecedented success.
But stealing even one win against either the Mustangs or Panthers could be crucial for Virginia to break into the AVCA rankings. With a victory, the Cavaliers would also massively help their chances at qualifying for their first NCAA Tournament since 1999.
Friday’s match will begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s first serve is set for 2 p.m.. The games can be streamed on ACCNX
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