The No. 9 Pitt volleyball team traveled down to Columbia, South Carolina, to take part in the Carolina Classic, and they emerged undefeated in three games, topping No. 23 Rice 3-2 on Friday, No. 18 Washington State 3-1 on Saturday afternoon and unranked host South Carolina 3-0 on Saturday night.
The season-opening matchup with Rice was a back-and-forth affair that saw the Panthers and Owls exchange blows before heading into the fifth set all knotted up at 2-2. In that final set, Rice ran out to a 5-1 lead, but Pitt eventually fought back to tie it at 12-12.