The Pittsburgh volleyball team is on a roll this season—whether it’s the ACC or the NCAA. The high-ranking Panthers with the season record of 29-1 and 19-1 in the ACC claimed the 2024 ACC Championship title on November 30, defeating No. 19 Georgia Tech in a five-set match (25-10, 24-26, 25-13, 18-25, 17-15). Oh, they were not merely fooling around—they were performing. Torrey Stafford scored 16 kills as if she was on a break; Olivia Babcock added her second triple figure with 18 kills, 12 digs, and a stunning career-best 10 blocks. Of course, the crowd at Fitzgerald Field House stayed undefeated too, riding every moment as Pitt stayed spotless at home.

But that was just the warm-up because the Panthers stormed into the NCAA season like they owned the place. Pittsburgh Volleyball, in their most recent mic-drop performance, defeated No. 3 Kentucky (25-22, 25-23, 25-17) to clinch their fourth consecutive Regional Final triumph and Final Four berth. Fairbanks really stepped up in the second set and made the final ace to close out the match to show she was prepared for the big leagues. So now that we’re talking about Fairbanks, it’s only fair to ask—what’s the story behind this rising star, and what major milestones has she already checked off her list?

Pittsburgh Volleyball’s senior setter!

Rachel Fairbanks is a powerhouse on the court! Over the years as a setter for the Pittsburgh senior team, she has earned herself many achievements. Transitioning from First Team All-ACC in 2024 to being awarded AVCA East Coast Region multiple times, she continues to show why she is among the best. Some of her achievements include being a semifinalist for the AVCA National Player of the Year and excelling in academic teams, thus being a true athlete. And let’s not forget her four-time ACC Setter of the Week status—talk about consistent dominance!

Throughout her journey, Fairbanks has been nothing more than a game-changer at every step of the way. In the year 2023, her performance recorded the highest number of assists as 933, digs as 190, kills as 59, and blocks as 52. Her leadership to take the Panthers to program bests, such as a .303 season hitting percentage, shows how talented she is. Whether it is getting into position for setting or coming off the bench to perform with intensity, Rachel gives it her all—take, for instance, her triple double against Louisville with 58 assists and 19 digs.

Now, in her final season, Fairbanks continues to lead by example. She contributed to the team hitting percentage of .438 recently and also provided double-double figures of 36 assists and 10 digs. It’s clear that with her at the helm, the Panthers keep soaring to new heights. And now this Pittsburgh volleyball star is looking forward to completing a mission!

Pitts’ Panthers on their way to that title!

Media day was a vibe for Pittsburgh Volleyball setter Rachel Fairbanks this year. Of course, it is her fourth one, and this time she knows exactly what will happen to her. But when it was the senior photo, her immediate response was a loud, firm, ‘nope.’ Seniors? That word is somewhat of a misnomer for this group. Three of them are real seniors: Rachel, Emmy Klika, and the transfer student Nisa Buzlutepe. The other two, Valeria Vazquez Gomez and Cat Flood, are cashing in on those extra COVID years, but they’re not exactly the same age. Valeria is in her sixth year, and Flood is in her fifth year. It’s a wild mix, but one thing that they all have in common is a history. A history of tragedy, failure, and success.

Rachel looks back at those days, especially the defeats that kept the team going. “It feels like it flew by so fast,” she says. “We just like to think about everything we’ve been through. It’s just life-changing. This program is life-changing.” It has been a roller coaster ride of hard work and progress from second-round eliminations to a Final Four staple. Valeria stepped foot on campus in 2019 when Pitt was still unknown to many in volleyball. “She saw through the losses that we had before we became a normal Final Four-making team,” alumna Kayla Lund says. “She saw the heartbreak that we had gone through—when she got here, when we lost to Cincinnati.” Valeria and the rest of this senior squad were there through it all—the tough games, the quiet moments in the gym, the moments where you had to dig deep, even when no one else could see.

Cats’ story is somewhat different. She played her first season in the COVID-signed year, and the regional finals were far from glamorous. Quarantines, 150 family members in a hotel room—they saw it all. “It was kind of heartbreaking,” Cat admits. “But I think that was when everybody realized we can do this. We were better than Washington, and we should’ve gone to the Final Four.” Fast forward to now, and these leaders are driving the charge for Pittsburgh Volleyball’s ultimate goal: a national championship. Whether it’s Rachel quarterbacking the offense or Cat rocking her iconic hair, this senior class has etched its mark, proving that it’s not just about wins and losses—it’s about the journey and the people along the way.