In a battle for the title of best volleyball team in the state of Pennsylvania, No. 1 Pitt defeated No. 3 Penn State and neither set was particularly close. The Nittany Lions failed to reach 20 points in either set.

Number 1 was clearly better than number 3, by a large and definitive margin.

The Panthers delivered this quick win in front of a sold-out Petersen Events Center crowd of 11,800 fans, something Pitt head coach Dan Fisher is extremely proud of.

“Just happy to have a great crowd,” Fisher said. “I thought the energy was incredible. And I really appreciate the Pitt fans, the volleyball fans (and) the students coming out and helping us make history.”

The 11,800 fans gave senior libero Emmy Klika, who has played in multiple Final Fours, goosebumps during his match against the Nittany Lions.

“I got goosebumps, like I heard the crowd cheering for us,” Klika said. “When I saw all the seats were full, I think it’s just a testament to the spirit that not only the school but the city has around our team and volleyball in general. It feels really special to be a part of this group.”

First set

Pitt came out and easily dominated the Nittany Lions, 25-15. Senior setter Rachel Fairbanks led the Panthers to a .429 hitting percentage, while Pitt’s defense held the Nittany Lions to a .118 hitting percentage.

Sophomore winger Torrey Stafford had five kills in the first set, while sophomore opposite Olivia Babcock and freshman middle blocker Ryla Jones had four kills.

It wasn’t just a crazy offensive set for Pitt. Klika added eight digs, three shy of her season record, and as a team the Panthers earned 20 digs. Pitt also earned three total blocks in the first set.

Klika attributes her impressive performance in working the ball into the ground to the preparation the Panthers made before the match.

“We had a really good scout and we prepared really well defensively,” Klika said. “I heard (Fisher) say, ‘trust your eyes,’ and I just trusted what I saw and reacted.”

Second set

The team from State College, Pennsylvania did not let the Panthers walk all over them throughout the match. The top three teams went back and forth in the second set until the 18-17 match point.

With a chance to tie the game at 18, Stafford held off the Nittany Lions. Fairbanks found the surging Stafford from the back row and she drove the ball straight down the Penn State side of the court.

After Stafford’s kill, Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley would call a timeout, but it could not revive the Nittany Lions. Pitt would go on a 6-2 run after Stafford’s kill and won the second set 25-19.

Penn State seemed much less shocked by the Pitt crowd, but Pitt’s star players outscored the Nittany Lions in the second set.

Third set

The third set looked eerily similar to the first. The Panthers dominated the Nittany Lions for the first 16 points they earned, taking a 16-6 lead. But the Nittany Lions showed they were a strong group by going on an 8-2 run and trailing only 18-14.

But Stafford, as she did in the second set, answered for the Panthers, this time from the outside, earning three straight kills for Pitt to give the Panthers a commanding seven-point lead.

Pitt sailed through the rest of the set, winning 25-18. With this victory, Pitt has now won 21 straight sets to start the year — the only team in the country still without dropping a set.

Every Pitt player excelled in the bright lights, but Stafford rose above the rest. She finished with multiple kills in clutch moments and a season-high 16 kills.

The Torrance, California-born singer believes she was able to pull off this impressive feat thanks to her mentality.

“I think I strive to get better every year,” Stafford said. “I never wanted to be a complacent player.”

Pitt’s next test is this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House, where they face Eastern Carolina, who currently leads the nation in opponent hitting percentage. The game can be watched on ACCNX