Pitt volleyball is getting a major boost for the long haul.
Olivia Babcock and Blaire Bayless both announced Saturday that they will return to the Panthers for their fifth college seasons in 2027, making the news during the first quarter of the Pitt-Bucknell football game at Acrisure Stadium. The announcement confirmed that both players will use their final season of NCAA eligibility at Pitt.
Dan Fisher didn’t hide how much that means to the program.
"It's hard to put into words what Olivia and Blaire mean to Pitt volleyball, and we're thrilled that they have chosen to come back and give us another year," said Pitt Volleyball head coach Dan Fisher in a statement. "Both players are incredibly competitive, committed to this program and hungry to finish what they've started.
Having the opportunity to coach them for another season is a blessing and a huge honor. The future looks very bright!"
Babcock and Bayless entered Pitt together as part of the 2023 recruiting class, and both now have the chance to stay through 2027 under the NCAA's new age-based eligibility rule, which gives most student-athletes five years of college play.
For Babcock, the decision adds another chapter to a career that already sits among the most decorated in Pitt history. She has won two AVCA National Player of the Year Awards, with a chance to become the first player in volleyball history to win three, along with two Honda Awards and two ESPY nominations.
Earlier this week, Babcock said on the Welcome To The Party podcast that she was weighing a move to the pro ranks after her fourth season.
"I have a lot of options -- all good options, though. This is positive stress.
I don't think I can make the wrong decision," Babcock told hosts Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King. "So that's kind of why I'm so scared to make that decision -- because there's no bad decisions."
Bayless has taken on a bigger role this season, becoming a six-rotation standout and putting herself on track for career bests in kills, digs, blocks and points. She has also emerged as Pitt’s top serve-receive option, which has helped create better offensive chances for the rest of the lineup.
The Panthers have reached the Final Four in each of the three seasons with Babcock and Bayless, and they’ve done it while going 103-12 overall. Now they’ll have two more chances to chase the first national championship in Pitt volleyball history, with the Final Four set for San Antonio, Texas this December and Columbus, Ohio in 2027.
In Other News...
Olivia Babcock Is Giving Pitt Fans A Bigger Reason To Watch
Pitts first ACC match at Victory Heights Arena turned into a showcase for Olivia Babcock, who powered the Panthers to a 3-0 sweep of Cal with 18 kills and five blocks. She also kept the pressure on from the service line, using her jump topspin serve to deliver five aces and help fuel the scoring runs that put the match out of reach.
For Pitt fans, the bigger storyline now sits beyond one dominant night. Babcock recently discussed a future that still isnt settled, with possibilities that include returning for a fifth year or making the jump to the professional ranks. However it plays out, her performance against Cal only sharpened the sense that every time she takes the floor, there is something worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Finally Looks Like It Found Something Before Virginia Tech
At halftime, Pitt is showing the kind of rhythm and balance it has been trying to build, and Mason Heintschel has been right at the center of it. The sophomore quarterback has already piled up 288 passing yards and multiple touchdowns, spreading the ball around to several targets, including Censere Lee and Carson Kent, while the Panthers have paired that efficiency with a defense that has kept Bucknell stuck on 80 total yards.
The result is a 35-0 lead that has looked comfortable even with a few penalties mixed in. For a Pitt team heading toward Virginia Tech, the bigger question now is whether this is just one clean half against an overmatched opponent or the first sign that the Panthers have finally found something they can carry forward. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt's Young Offense Just Delivered The Start Fans Wanted
In a non-conference tuneup at Acrisure Stadium, Pitt got exactly the kind of start it was hoping for from an offense that has been looking for rhythm. Mason Heintschel was sharp from the opening quarter, and the Panthers turned a first-half burst into a 35-0 halftime lead over Bucknell.
Heintschel completed 20 of 28 passes for 288 yards and five touchdowns before the break, with tight end Carson Kent and receiver Demetrice McCray each turning into major factors in the scoring surge. For a young Pitt offense, the first half offered a glimpse of what it can look like when the timing is there and the ball is moving quickly, even if the bigger test still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]