Are you tired of making the trek out to Heinz Field on game days only to watch Pitt lose? Do you ever wish you could cheer for a team that consistently wins? Well look no further, because Pitt women’s volleyball has been dominating this season. If you haven’t attended a game yet, you’re missing out.
The team’s record is 22-0 overall and 10-0 in the ACC, which is the best start to a season they’ve ever had. With the best record in the ACC, they’ve quickly moved up in national rankings from No. 20 to No. 5. On top of all that, they’ve broken the record for highest attendance at the Fitzgerald Field House with 2,152 fans at Sunday’s game against Louisville!
So, what’s it like to attend a game? I’ve personally been to four games this season and let me tell you: they’re super entertaining. One of the reasons they’re so fun to watch is because the atmosphere in the Fitzgerald Field House is so high-energy. Fans are right next to the court so any cheering (or booing) is definitely heard by the players. The pep band gets the crowd riled up, leading cheers and trying to throw the other team off. One thing they do to accomplish this is counting out the number of times the opposing team dribbles the ball before a serve. Just like at Heinz Field, they play Sweet Caroline; however, unlike at Heinz Field, you’ll also probably hear the Victory Song after a game. And unlike football games, volleyball is free to get in to with your Pitt ID!
If you’ve never seen a volleyball game or aren’t familiar with the rules, here are the basics. Games, also called matches, are made up of sets, and the teams compete for the best of five sets. Each set is played to 25 but must be won by at least two points (so if it’s 25-24, they keep playing). A point is scored every serve by the team that wins the rally, meaning the other team couldn’t return the ball. There’s a maximum of three hits per side, but a block doesn’t count as a hit.
I highly recommend going to watch our women’s volleyball team. Not only are they amazing players, but you can tell they have fun playing and have great team spirit. The Panthers won the ACC championship last year and have a good shot at it again this year. So, forget football because Pitt is becoming a volleyball school!
There are two home games left, but one is over Thanksgiving break which means you only have one more chance to watch the women’s volleyball team play! The game is on Sunday, November 11th at 1 p.m. against Duke.