No. 4 Pitt Beats No. 3 Kentucky 3-1 at AVCA First Serve Showcase

Overview

• Pittsburgh defeated Kentucky 3-1 on Sunday at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Milwaukee, ending Kentucky’s early unbeaten run after its 3-0 season-opening sweep of Wisconsin.
• Olivia Babcock finished with 27 kills and four blocks, anchoring Pitt's attack and producing several early run-scoring stretches that put Kentucky on its heels.
• Kentucky relied on Brooklyn DeLeye, Morgan Gaerte and Lizzie Carr for offense, but the Wildcats struggled with attacking errors and passing that limited their ability to sustain rallies.
• Pitt’s defense and timely blocking disrupted Kentucky’s offense across multiple sets, a performance that underscores Pitt’s status as a returning Final Four contender after a 30-5 2025 season.
• The nationally televised match on ESPN, with streaming available on Fubo, will shape early-season perceptions and likely influence first-week rankings as both programs continue high-profile nonconference play.