The Pittsburgh Panthers found themselves in a dogfight in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, matched up with the Michigan Wolverines.
But Pitt, the No. 1 team in the country, had something Michigan didn't: The best player in the land, Olivia Babcock.
And thanks to Babcock, Pitt is moving on.
The Panthers went 25-23, 25-23, 25-18 on Saturday night in front of their home fans.
Babcock was brilliant, finishing with:
- 24 kills
- .370 hitting
- 8 digs
- 3 block assists
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Babcock was the 2024 national player of the year and is as good as any hitter out there.
Without her being locked in, Pitt may have been in real trouble of a massive upset.
With her, the Panthers are moving on.
It's been a steady build to this point for the Panthers, who weren't always a powerhouse. But in recent years, they've ascended to the top of the ACC and now the top of the national poll.
They want to climb the national championship mountaintop, too.
If Babcock keeps doing this, they'll have a real chance of it.
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