Olivia Babcock to Miss Pitt Volleyball's Match Against Wake Forest

Pitt Volleyball has announced on X (previously known as Twitter) that star right-side hitter and two-time AVCA Player of the Year Olivia Babcock will miss Friday night's match against Wake Forest.

Babcock could also miss Sunday's match at North Carolina State due to illness.

"We interrupt your regularly scheduled scroll for tonight's availability note: Pitt Volleyball senior right side Olivia Babcock will be unavailable for tonight's match against Wake Forest due to illness. Her status for Sunday's match at NC State continues to be evaluated."

We interrupt your regularly scheduled scroll for tonight's availability note: Pitt Volleyball senior right side Olivia Babcock will be unavailable for tonight’s match against Wake Forest due to illness. Her status for Sunday’s match at NC State continues to be evaluated.
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) October 30, 2026

Pitt (19-1, 9-1) is currently No. 2 in the AVCA poll and 2nd in the ACC standings, thanks in large part to Babcock's team-leading 324 kills and 25 service aces. She is hitting at an explosive .372 clip and averaging 1.08 blocks per set, accounting for nearly one-third of her team's total points this season.

While Babcock does play a significant role on her team, the Panthers have other excellent pins and middles to help make up the production tonight and possibly Sunday. Senior outside hitter Blaire Bayless is second on the team in total points (231) and averages 3.23 kills per set. Senior middle blocker Jordyn Dailey averages 1.5 blocks per set and has 53 kills on the season, hitting a team-high .511 efficiency. Freshman outside hitter Ayanna Watson has also made an impact this year, with 154 kills at a .291 clip and 20 service aces.

Junior setter Izzy Starck, in her first year with the Panthers, has guided the team to a .332 hitting percentage on the season (second in the NCAA) and .312 without Babcock's stats (though it is important to note that defenses often focus on Babcock, which allows her other hitters to find success).

Pitt does have two other players with experience on the right side. One is senior outside hitter Sophia Gregoire, who has played in 75 sets in her two years at Pitt and averages 1.28 points per set at a .294 hitting percentage. The second is Dailey, who has played middle blocker her entire career at Pitt but was listed as an outside/opposite hitter during her three years at Kentucky.

If head coach Dan Fischer does move Dailey over to the pin, fans may get to see freshman Maaike Heilig, who has averaged 1.16 kills per set and has 6 service aces on the year.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are currently 9-12, 3-7 on the season. They are coming off a split weekend against North Carolina State, losing 0-3 on Friday, Oct 23 and winning 3-1 on Sunday, Oct. 25.

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