No. 1 seed Pitt hosts No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA volleyball tournament’s Elite Eight on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Pitt’s had sweeps against UMBC, Michigan and Minnesota to advance. But many of the sets were too close for comfort. Purdue advanced by coming back from a first set loss to beat SMU in the Sweet 16.
“I think we’re really battle-tested,” said Pitt’s Olivia Babcock, the reigning ACC Player of the Year. “In no way does it feel like we’ve swept our way through. All these teams are playing their hardest, and if you look at the scores, it’s not like we’re blowing teams out. It’s like 25-23, a set that could really go either way.
“I feel like it’s testing us with how we can play at the end (of sets). That’s something that’s going to be really important moving into these next three rounds.”
SCORE: Pitt 2, Purdue 0
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