Pitt Volleyball Driven by Past Disappointment
KANSAS CITY, MO ― Upon arriving at last year’s NCAA volleyball Final Four in Louisville, Kentucky, Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Dan Fisher received several commemorative Louisville slugger bats.
Throughout the 2025 season, they would sit in his office in special holders, serving as a reminder of what coudl have been. Last December, Pitt’s title push ended shy of the championship game. After making four consecutive Final Four appearances without winning a trophy, the No. 1 overall seed fell short ― again. The Panthers lost 3-1 to the Louisville Cardinals in the semifinals adn went home empty-handed.
On Wednesday, Fisher, well aware that Pitt let a potential chance at a championship slip away, reflected on the disappointment he felt.
“I can simultaneously be proud of making the Final Four and disappointed we didn’t advance,” he said. “I can hold those two thoughts at once.”
The balancing act of holding space for pride and disappointment has likely been something the Panthers coach and his team have been silently juggling all season. At some point,it probably had to become a small part of what fueled them to get back to volleyball’s biggest stage and return for a fifth straight Final Four.
Key Takeaways
- Pitt has reached the Final Four five consecutive times but hasn’t won a championship.
- Head coach Dan Fisher acknowledges both pride in the team’s success and disappointment in falling short of the ultimate goal.
- The memory of last year’s loss to Louisville serves as motivation for the 2025 season.
Publication Date: 2025/12/18 10:56:23