If there’s one volleyball rivalry that always steals the show, it’s Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh. And guess what? The battle is heating up again! Earlier this year, it was revealed that Pitt is kicking off the 2025 season with a blockbuster matchup against none other than Nebraska in the AVCA First Serve Showcase on August 22 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska’s former head coach, John Cook, spilled the details on the Kicking Back with the Cooks podcast, revealing that Stanford will also take on Creighton, with more teams joining on August 24. As for August 25? Nebraska vs. Stanford and Pitt vs. Creighton—setting the stage for an absolute volleyball showdown!
But here’s the kicker—Pitt is still chasing their first-ever win against Nebraska, having gone 0-15 in the all-time series, with multiple heartbreakers in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers fell to the Cornhuskers in the Final Four twice in the last four years, including a brutal sweep in 2023. Their last regular-season faceoff? August 29, 2015—Nebraska took it in four sets and went on to win the national title. And now, just when you thought the drama couldn’t get any better, Pitt Volleyball is shaking things up with a surprise spring game before their Big Ten debut.
Pitt Volleyball drops a surprise game!
Pitt Volleyball decided to shake things up on March 31, dropping a surprise announcement on X that had fans buzzing. “Surprise!!! We’ve got another spring scrimmage on the schedule against a B1G opponent,” they teased, and let’s just say—it’s a matchup that brings some serious history. On April 9, the Panthers are heading straight into enemy territory, taking on their longtime rival, Penn State, at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa., with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. And if you know anything about these two teams, you know sparks always fly when they share the court!
Surprise!!!
We’ve got another spring scrimmage on the schedule against a B1G opponent
https://t.co/ZNbhnkP0pq pic.twitter.com/Yf1mCuGIci
— Pitt Volleyball (@Pitt_VB) March 31, 2025
This isn’t Pitt’s first rodeo this spring, though. The Panthers are putting in the reps, stacking up a total of three spring scrimmages to keep the energy high before the 2025 season. After their faceoff with Penn State volleyball, they’ll return home to Fitzgerald Field House for two back-to-back battles—Ohio State on April 12 and Michigan on April 13, both tipping off at 1:00 p.m. It’s safe to say Pitt is making sure they’re battle-tested before the real grind begins.
And let’s not forget—this isn’t the first time Pitt and Penn State have gone head-to-head in spring action. Last year, they split their scrimmages, with Pitt snagging a four-set win at home, while Penn State defended their turf with a five-set thriller at Rec Hall. With the volleyball rivalry still alive and well, this latest showdown is bound to bring the heat.
Pitt and Penn State rivalry!
Last season, Pitt and Penn State brought the heat back to their long-standing rivalry, lighting up the Petersen Events Center on Sept. 18. And let’s just say, the Panthers did not hold back. In front of a roaring, record-breaking crowd of 11,800 fans, they absolutely dominated the Nittany Lions, sweeping them off the court. But that was just the beginning—both teams went on to have monster seasons, proving why they’re two of the biggest names in women’s college volleyball. They each earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for some high-stakes battles.
Pitt kept their winning ways alive, finishing with an insane 33-2 record and going 19-1 in the ACC. That marked their third straight conference title—sixth in eight seasons, not that we’re counting—and yet another trip to the Final Four. But their dream run hit a roadblock when they fell to their familiar foe, Louisville, in four sets at the KFC Yum! Center. Meanwhile, Penn State also tore through the competition, finishing 35-2 overall and matching Pitt’s 19-1 record in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions didn’t just stop at the Final Four—they pulled off a jaw-dropping reverse sweep against Nebraska before taking down Louisville in four sets to claim their eighth National Championship.
And guess what? This rivalry is far from over. Both squads are returning some serious firepower: Pitt has the AVCA National Player of the Year, Olivia Babcock, plus All-Americans Bre Kelley and Ryla Jones. Penn State? They’ve got Big Ten Freshman of the Year Izzy Starck, defensive powerhouse Gillian Grimes, and Caroline Jurevicius ready to bring the heat. And let’s not forget the masterminds behind it all—Pitt’s Dan Fisher, last season’s AVCA Coach of the Year, and Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who fought through cancer to win her first National Title as head coach. With these two powerhouses on a collision course once again, one thing’s for sure—it’s gonna be must-watch volleyball!
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