Season snapshot
- Record:
- 15-1
- Last result:
- W 3-0 at SMU · Sun, Oct 11
- Next match:
- vs Florida State · Fri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX)
- Remaining ranked opponents:
- 3
- Schedule sites:
- 16 home · 15 away · 1 neutral
ACC2026 season
Pittsburgh Volleyball Schedule 2026
Record: 15-1 32 listed matches
Latest result: W 3-0 at SMU · Oct 11 All results
Save schedule & follow Pittsburgh
Match dates & results
Pittsburgh Volleyball Schedule 2026
Scores checked Oct 12, 2026 · Times as listed
14 upcoming matches · Times shown as listed
October 2026
5 matchesFriday
16
vs
Florida State
7:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX) · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunday
18
vs
Miami
12:00 PM ET (TV: ACC Network) · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Friday
23
at
Georgia Tech
7:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX) · Atlanta, Ga.
Sunday
25
C
at
Clemson
1:00 PM ET · Clemson, SC
Friday
30
WF
at
Wake Forest
6:30 PM ET · Winston-Salem, NC
November 2026
9 matchesSunday
1
NS
at
NC State
1:00 PM ET · Raleigh, NC
Friday
6
D
vs
Duke
7:00 PM ET · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunday
8
vs
North Carolina
1:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX) · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Wednesday
11
ND
vs
Notre Dame
7:00 PM ET · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunday
15
vs
Louisville
8:30 PM ET (TV: ESPN2) · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Friday
20
V
at
Virginia
7:00 PM ET · Charlottesville, VA
Sunday
22
VT
at
Virginia Tech
12:00 PM ET · Blacksburg, VA
Tuesday
24
at
Stanford
10:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX) · Stanford, CA
Saturday
28
NS
vs
NC State
1:00 PM ET · Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, Pittsburgh, PA
This week in ACC
- North Carolina at Notre DameFri, Oct 16 · 6:30 PM ET
- Pittsburgh vs Florida StateFri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PM ET
- Louisville vs DukeFri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PM ET
- Georgia Tech vs SyracuseFri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PM EDT
- SMU vs MiamiFri, Oct 16 · 7:00 pm CT
Next opponents
- Florida StateOct 16 · 7:00 PM ET (TV: ACCNX)
- MiamiOct 18 · 12:00 PM ET (TV: ACC Network)
- Georgia TechOct 23 · 7:00 PM ET
The Squad · Roster
Pittsburgh Volleyball Roster 2026
Meet the 15 athletes on the Pittsburgh Panthers volleyball team
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | Ht | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maaike Heilig Middle Blocker · Freshman · 6'4" | Middle Blocker | Freshman | 6'4" | Hoogkarspel, Netherlands |
| 3 | Jordyn Dailey Middle Blocker · Senior · 6'2" | Middle Blocker | Senior | 6'2" | Franklinton, N.C. |
| 5 | Olivia Babcock Right Side · Senior · 6'4" | Right Side | Senior | 6'4" | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 6 | Sophia Gregoire Outside Hitter · Senior · 6'1" | Outside Hitter | Senior | 6'1" | Dundee, Ore. |
| 7 | Izzy Masten Libero/DS · Sophomore · 5'8" | Libero/DS | Sophomore | 5'8" | Brownsburg, Ind. |
| 8 | Blaire Bayless Outside Hitter · Senior · 6'2" | Outside Hitter | Senior | 6'2" | Plano, Texas |
| 9 | Trinity Thompson Setter/DS · Freshman · 5'9" | Setter/DS | Freshman | 5'9" | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| 10 | Marina Pezelj Outside Hitter · Sophomore · 6'1" | Outside Hitter | Sophomore | 6'1" | Monaco |
| 11 | Lola Sageer Outside Hitter · Freshman · 6'2" | Outside Hitter | Freshman | 6'2" | Syracuse, N.Y. |
| 12 | Ayanna Watson Outside Hitter · Freshman · 6'2" | Outside Hitter | Freshman | 6'2" | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| 13 | Mallorie Meyer Libero/DS · Junior · 5'7" | Libero/DS | Junior | 5'7" | Roca, Neb. |
| 20 | Abbey Emch Middle Blocker · Sophomore · 6'4" | Middle Blocker | Sophomore | 6'4" | New Waterford, Ohio |
| 21 | Izzy Starck Setter · Junior · 6'1" | Setter | Junior | 6'1" | Viera, Fla. |
| 25 | Haiti Tautua'a Setter · Senior · 6'0" | Setter | Senior | 6'0" | Wai'anae, Hawai'i |
| 33 | Jessica Smallwood Right Side · Freshman · 6'6" | Right Side | Freshman | 6'6" | Elizabethtown, Ky. |
Fan Guide · FAQ
Pittsburgh Volleyball FAQ 2026
Everything you need to know about Pittsburgh Panthers volleyball
When does the Pittsburgh volleyball 2026 season start?
Pitt opens the 2026 regular season on Sunday, Aug. 23 against No. 3 Kentucky at 4 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, as part of the Jeep AVCA First Serve. The Panthers played two preseason exhibitions before that — the Blue/Gold scrimmage on Aug. 8 and a scrimmage at Michigan on Aug. 15 — neither of which counts toward the record.
How many matches are on the Pittsburgh volleyball schedule 2026?
Thirty regular-season matches: 20 ACC matches and 10 non-conference. Fifteen are at home, 12 on the road and three at neutral sites. The ACC and NCAA Tournaments in December are additional.
Where do the Panthers play home matches in 2026?
Most home matches are at the new Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center on Pitt's Oakland campus, which replaced the Fitzgerald Field House this season. Three home matches — Kansas (Aug. 28), Wisconsin (Aug. 30) and SMU (Oct. 7) — are at the Petersen Events Center.
Is Pitt volleyball still playing at Fitzgerald Field House?
No. 2026 is the first season in Victory Heights Arena. Fitzgerald Field House, which opened in 1951, is no longer the volleyball home. Any schedule listing 2026 home matches at Fitzgerald is out of date.
How can I watch Pittsburgh volleyball games in 2026?
Nine matches are on national television — ESPN, ESPN2 or ACC Network — and one on FS2. Every other ACC match streams on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) through the ESPN app, which requires a TV provider login.
What time is the Pitt vs. Louisville match?
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Victory Heights Arena, on ESPN2. It was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. and moved to accommodate the national broadcast window.
Who is Pittsburgh's biggest match of the 2026 season?
Depends what you're measuring. The toughest opponent is Kentucky in the Aug. 23 opener. The most consequential are the two against Stanford (Sep. 27 at home, Nov. 24 in California), since Pitt and Stanford shared the 2025 ACC title and both open in the AVCA top five. The best atmosphere will be Louisville on Nov. 15.
Does Pitt play Penn State or Nebraska in 2026?
Not in the regular season. There is no Penn State or Nebraska match on the 2026 slate — Pitt's only exhibition trip is Aug. 15 at Michigan. The two programs could only meet in the NCAA Tournament.
How is Pittsburgh ranked entering 2026?
No. 4 in the AVCA preseason poll with 1,383 points, the highest-ranked ACC team. It's the fourth straight year Pitt has opened in the top five. ACC coaches picked the Panthers second in the league behind Stanford.
Who is Pittsburgh's head coach?
Dan Fisher, who took over the program in 2013. He has led Pitt to five consecutive NCAA national semifinals and four straight ACC championships.
Who are Pitt's best players in 2026?
Senior right side Olivia Babcock, the two-time AVCA National Player of the Year, is the headliner. Setter Izzy Starck (Penn State transfer, 2024 AVCA National Freshman of the Year) and senior outside hitter Blaire Bayless joined her on the 2026 Preseason All-ACC team.
How did Pittsburgh finish the 2025 season?
30-4 overall, 18-2 in ACC play, a shared ACC championship with Stanford, and a fifth straight appearance in the NCAA national semifinals.
Is there an ACC volleyball tournament after the regular season?
No. The ACC does not hold a women's volleyball conference tournament — the title is decided by regular-season record, and the champion receives the league's automatic NCAA bid. The NCAA Tournament follows the Nov. 28 regular-season finale in December, with dates, sites and seeding confirmed later in the fall.
Leadership · Staff
Pittsburgh Volleyball Coaches 2026
The leadership behind Pittsburgh Panthers volleyball success
Dan Fisher
Head Coach · 13 years with program
Dan Fisher took over Pittsburgh in 2013 and has led the Panthers to five consecutive NCAA national semifinals and four straight ACC championships, building the program on serve pressure, disciplined blocking and player development.
Kellen Petrone
Associate Head Coach / Team Architect · 6 years with program
Kellen Petrone serves as associate head coach and team architect, shaping Pittsburgh's roster construction and offensive systems.
Kamalani Akeo
Assistant Coach · 4 years with program
Kamalani Akeo focuses on defensive systems, serve-receive and back-row development for the Panthers.
Michael Fisher
Assistant Coach · 3 years with program
Michael Fisher works with Pittsburgh's training program and day-to-day player development.
Logan Mosley
Director of Operations · 2 years with program
Logan Mosley manages travel, logistics and the day-to-day operations of the Pittsburgh volleyball program.
Heritage · Legacy
Pittsburgh Volleyball Program History
Pittsburgh has reached five consecutive NCAA national semifinals through 2025 and won four straight ACC championships, sharing the 2025 title with Stanford after an 18-2 league run and a 30-4 overall record.
Dan Fisher took over in 2013 and built an ACC afterthought into one of the sport's most consistent contenders, producing two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock and a long line of All-Americans.
In 2026 the program moves into the Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, retiring the Fitzgerald Field House — its home since 1951 — as the volleyball venue.
Where to Watch
Where to Watch Pittsburgh Volleyball
Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center
Address: Pitt Oakland campus, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Capacity: ≈3,600 fans
2026 is the first season in the Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center, the new on-campus home for Pitt volleyball. The arena seats roughly 3,600 and replaces the Fitzgerald Field House, which had housed the program since 1951. It opened to fans on Aug. 8 for the Blue/Gold scrimmage, with a court-level Victory Club premium space and a free pre-match fan fest outside the building. Twelve of Pitt's 15 home dates are at Victory Heights; three larger draws — Kansas (Aug. 28), Wisconsin (Aug. 30) and SMU (Oct. 7) — move across campus to the Petersen Events Center, which seats 12,508.
Both venues sit on Pitt's Oakland campus and doors typically open about an hour before first serve. Public transit and campus garages are the practical options on match nights; street parking in Oakland is scarce, particularly on Friday and weekend dates that overlap with other Pitt events.
TV & Streaming
Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, FS2
Streaming: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) via the ESPN app
Pitt was selected for nine nationally televised matches in 2026 — four non-conference on ESPN or ESPN2, and five ACC matches on ESPN, ESPN2 or ACC Network: Aug. 23 vs. Kentucky (ESPN), Aug. 28 vs. Kansas (ESPN2), Aug. 30 vs. Wisconsin (ESPN), Sep. 9 vs.
Tennessee (ESPN2), Sep. 27 vs. Stanford (ESPN, Victory Heights Arena's national TV debut), Oct. 7 vs. SMU (ACC Network), Oct. 18 vs. Miami (ACC Network), Nov. 11 vs.
Notre Dame (ACC Network) and Nov. 15 vs. Louisville (ESPN2). Two start times were moved specifically for television: the Stanford match on Sep. 27 and the Louisville match on Nov. 15 both shifted to 8:30 p.m. ET, so early ticket buyers expecting a 5 p.m. Louisville first serve should note the change. Everything else streams on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), which requires an ESPN login authenticated through a participating TV provider — it is not a separate purchase.
ACC Network itself is carried on Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream. The Aug. 24 Xavier match airs on FS2 as part of the AVCA First Serve package. Live stats for home matches and most ACC road matches are free on StatBroadcast, linked from each match on PittsburghPanthers.com. Tickets: single-match tickets are sold through PittsburghPanthers.com and at the venue box office on match days.
Season tickets at Victory Heights are tied to Panther Club donation levels and priority points, which is new for 2026. The Louisville, Stanford and Wisconsin matches are the ones to buy early — high-profile opponents in a roughly 3,600-seat building sell out well in advance.
Season Storylines
2026 Pittsburgh Volleyball Season
New Home Floor
Victory Heights Arena hosts 12 of Pitt's 15 home dates in its first season, starting with the ACC opener against California on Sep. 25 and its national TV debut against Stanford on Sep. 27.
Brutal Non-Conference
Kentucky (Aug. 23, ESPN), Xavier, Kansas, Wisconsin, BYU, Utah and Tennessee all come before the ACC opener — three of them 2025 NCAA Tournament headliners.
The ACC Race
Pitt and Stanford shared the 2025 title and meet twice: Sep. 27 at Victory Heights on ESPN and Nov. 24 in California, four days before the NC State finale.
Go Panthers
Hail to Pitt!
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