Pitt Volleyball delivered a season that fans will not forget anytime soon, ruling the Big Ten and defeating tough teams such as Kentucky and Oregon to earn their bid in the NCAA semifinal. But oh, plot twist alert! When the semifinals for the championship rolled around, the Panthers faced off against Louisville in an intense showdown, falling short 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 27-29, 25-17). Even in defeat, the squad brought their A-game. Olivia Babcock smashed her way to a jaw-dropping career-high of 33 kills.

On the other hand, Torrey Stafford put up a double-double performance with 18 kills .333 hitting percentage, and 14 digs. But, of course, Emmy Klika, who was out there digging her heart out with a season-high 21 digs, should not be forgotten. But now that the dust has settled, and the season is in the books, here’s the kicker—one of Pitt Volleyball’s brightest stars, and the 2x All-American, just made a move for the 2025 season. So, wondering what’s the tea?

Pitt Volleyball star makes a huge move

Lincoln Arneal just dropped some jaw-dropping tea on X, leaving volleyball fans buzzing! He shared, “Two-time All-American Torrey Stafford from Pitt has entered the transfer portal, per sources. She averaged 3.7 kills per set on a .358 hitting percentage this last season. The Torrance, Calif. native has two years of eligibility left.” Yup, you read that right—Stafford, one of the most lethal hitters in the game, is officially on the move.

Why Torrey Stafford decided to enter the transfer portal is still unknown, but it most probably has to do with the dynamic nature of college sports. Stafford was an AVCA First-Team All-American last year and a First-Team All-ACC selection for two years and has put together quite a record. The .358 hitting percentage by her from last season was straight up elite—ranking fifth among all NCAA sluggers and second among Power Five players.

In just her second season, Stafford recorded 400 kills, 252 digs, and 67 blocks, and her total scores at Pitt were 772 kills, 140 blocks, and 454 digs. Naturally, her entry into the portal has created a buzz, and people are wondering where this California powerhouse might be headed.

Of course, USC, which is practically in her backyard, seems to be a good bet, but let’s not rule out Penn State or Louisville. While Pitt fans are still reeling from this shocking pre-2025 season shake-up, the excitement isn’t over yet. As new talents join the Panthers team, let’s take a look at the prospects that will shine during the next season!

The Panthers’ family gets bigger!

In November, Pitt Volleyball released some big news about the signings of the Class of 2025 for volleyball—Abbey Emch and Samara Coleman. The two standout players are set to take the court next season and are poised to impact the future of the program in the ACC and at a national level. The early signing period began on Nov. 13, and recruits in the United States sealed their college choices by signing the National Letters of Intent (NLI).

Speaking about these star players, head coach Dan Fisher said, “With the addition of Samara and Abbey, we will continue to compete at the highest level both in the ACC and nationally. They’re the type of people others want to be around. It is going to be a joy to show up to work with these two.”

Coming from New Waterford, Ohio, Abbey Emch, the 6-foot-4 middle blocker, had one of her best senior seasons at Crestview High School, averaging 6.4 kills per set, hitting .501 and leading the backcourt with 3.0 digs per set. Her high school career is a highlight: In terms of kills, she had 1,577, while digs were 726, aces 206, and blocks 317. Abbey’s versatility and height make her a dual threat at both middle blocker and outside hitter, ready to rule the net in college. Fisher mentions her as “a great blocker, has the ability to score, and has experience in all of the front row positions,” so he believes Abbey will ace as soon as she starts.

Then there’s Samara Coleman, the outside hitter from Spring, Texas, whose championship experience will be a great addition to Pitt. At 6-foot-1, 30 vertical jump, and quick moves, Samara has added powerful swings, which change the dynamics of the game and her bodily presence on the court. She was great in her senior year, getting 5.4 kills per set with a hitting efficiency of .332 and an impressive serve-receive percentage of 96.5%.

In her junior year, she secured 499 kills, 309 digs, 49 aces, and some other awards, such as Texas State Writers Association Class 6A Player of the Year. Fisher praised her for her skills and said, “She has a great arm, a big jump, and her improvement in serve-receive in the last two years is impressive. Samara is a great fit for us on the court and within our team culture.” With these two great players coming to the Panthers team the future is looking brighter than ever!