McCAMISH PAVILION — In their 2026 return to McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech volleyball had no answers for the best team in the ACC and #2 national ranked Pitt Panthers, losing in a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-13, 25-18). Tech generally had a very hard time getting around Pitt’s middle blockers with no hitters going over .200. Pitt finished with 13 total blocks to Tech’s 6.
In three sets, Tech hit .055 overall, going as low as -.194 in the second set.
Pitt brought their usual row of All-Americans, led by Olivia Babcock who tied the game lead with 12 kills, hitting .500 for the match.
And it only gets harder. #7 SMU comes to town on Sunday afternoon, also in McCamish Pavilion.
Set 1
Pitt took an early 3-0 lead and held their lead until a Magda Kobaidze kill tied it at 6-6. The ties lasted to 9-9 before Pitt broke open their lead again to 13-10, forcing Tech’s first timeout. With Alida Bennour at the service line after, she hit two aces and took advantage of a Blaire Bayless attack error to tie at 14-14. Pitt grabbed their advantage right back with Olivia Babcock at the service line to go up 17-14. They held a slight margin before two straight Zoë Humphrey points (kill and block) made it 19-18 Pitt, forcing the Panthers’ first timeout. Two straight Babcock kills after forced Tech’s final timeout down 21-18. An ace that clipped the tape by Ayanna Watson secured the set 25-19 for the Panthers
Set 2(1-0 Pitt)
Pitt quickly dominated to start the set, driving away with a five point run with multiple blocks to go up 7-3 and force Tech’s first timeout. Pitt did not relent, going on yet another three point run to go up 10-4, and then a third to go up 13-5 and force Tech’s last timeout of the set. Tech got out of the scoring run and got an ace from Vitoria Belfort on a spot serve, but only drew down double at 14-7. At the technical timeout, Tech was hitting -.286. Tech errors and Babcock kills continued to draw Tech out of the set, going behind 10 points multiple times. Pitt took the set 25-13, outhitting Tech .320 to -.194 in the set.
Set 3 (2-0 Pitt)
Tech sustained their first lead of the match early in the 3rd, getting a three point run with a Garibaldi block to go up 3-1. After Pitt tied it, Tech regained a two point lead on a Kobaidze kill that found its way through a triple block. Pitt then went on three then five point runs to go up 12-7. Tech climbed back within two to 12-10 before Pitt went on a 9-2 run, during which Humphrey went out with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Down 20-14, Bennour was back on the service line and hit her fourth ace of the match followed by a Bieleski kill for a three point run, forcing Pitt’s first timeout of the set. Two Pitt points later, one coming on what felt like the 15th block on the left pin side, Tech called their last timeout down 22-16.
Two Tech points later, both by Alida Bennour, Pitt called their final timeout up 22-18. The Panthers easily finished the match on a three point run to complete the sweep.
Stats & Game Leaders
Kills: Olivia Babcock (Pitt)/Alida Bennour (GT): 12
Assists: Heloise Soares (GT): 26
Digs: Izzy Starck (Pitt): 13
Hit% (min. 10 attempts): Abbey Emch (Pitt): .600
Points: Alida Bennour (GT): 18