Pitt Volleyball Stars Olivia Babcock and Blaire Bayless to Return for Fifth Season

A Fifth Season Under the NCAA Five in Five Rule

Babcock and Bayless made their surprise announcement during the first quarter of the Pitt-Bucknell football game at Acrisure Stadium. The two seniors are among the first major college volleyball stars to publicly commit to utilizing an extra year of competition under the NCAA’s Five in Five rule. Passed in June 2026, this policy replaced the traditional model by permitting athletes to play five full seasons within a continuous five-year window while eliminating standard redshirts and medical waivers for most players. Head Coach Dan Fisher praised the decision in an official team statement. 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, Fisher said. 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!

Two Different Paths to Program Leadership

Babcock arrived at Pitt with immediate impact, earning AVCA Freshman of the Year honors in 2023. She followed that campaign by securing the AVCA National Player of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025, making her just the fifth player in the history of the award to win it twice. She is also a two-time Honda Award winner and a two-time ESPY finalist for Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports. Speaking on the Welcome To The Party podcast ahead of her announcement, Babcock noted that she weighed professional options before committing to return. 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 said on the podcast. Bayless built her collegiate career through steady, year-over-year progression after appearing in just seven sets as a freshman in 2023. Her role expanded to 89 sets across 33 matches as a sophomore before she averaged 2.65 kills per set on .296 hitting as a junior. In her senior campaign, Bayless has increased her production further, averaging 3.24 kills, 2.00 digs, 0.62 blocks, and 3.58 points per set. Bayless also ranks second on the team with 120 total kills and 74 digs while anchoring the Panthers’ serve-receive game.

Championship Pursuits and Current Standings

With Babcock and Bayless anchoring the roster, Pitt has reached the NCAA Final Four in each of the past three seasons. The duo has compiled a 103-12 overall record, which includes a 37-11 mark against ranked opponents and just one home loss over four years. The Panthers enter their upcoming schedule ranked No. 2 nationally with an 11-0 start to the season and an active 57-match home winning streak. Pitt returns to action on Sunday, hosting No. 12 Stanford at Victory Heights in a match broadcast nationally on ESPN. The program will continue its chase for the school’s first national championship at the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, this December, with an additional opportunity waiting in Columbus, Ohio, during the 2027 season.