Preview: State Farm Volleyball Showcase

PITTSBURGH – TCU volleyball opens its 2025 marketing campaign Labor Day Weekend on the State Farm Volleyball Showcase. The Horned Frogs will tackle No. 3 Pitt and No. 2 Penn State on a nationwide TV viewers at PPG Paints Arena.

TCU NOTABLES
• TCU begins the season ranked for the primary time in program historical past. The Horned Frogs checked in at No. 25 within the AVCA/TARAFLEX Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
• Senior Jalyn Gibson was voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 crew by the league’s head coaches.
• Heading into the 2025 season, TCU was picked to complete fifth within the Big 12 Conference, receiving one first place vote.
• Sophomore Becca Kelley will play towards her sister Bre for the primary time in her profession when TCU and Pitt face off on Sunday.
• The Frogs open the season with 5 straight matches towards ranked opponents, together with three within the prime 10. The 2025 slate matches with options 13 NCAA Tournament groups from final season, together with 5 from the Sweet 16.
• TCU returns 5 starters and 10 letterwinners from a season in the past, together with its stat chief in blocks (Sarah Sylvester, 146) and digs (Gibson, 330). The Frogs additionally welcomed eight newcomers (4 freshmen and 4 transfers).
• Four Horned Frogs earned All-Big 12 honors final 12 months, tied for probably the most in class historical past. Three of them return for the 2025 season.
• Jason Williams is one among seven energetic coaches to guide his crew to the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament or past in every of their first three seasons on the helm of this system.
• The Frogs are 16-13 in season openers, together with 1-2 below Williams.
• TCU’s 22 wins in 2024 are tied for the fourth most in a single season in class historical past and marked the primary 20-win season since 2011.
• Further, The Frogs gained 13 matches in Big 12 play, their most since becoming a member of the league and tied for probably the most no matter convention (13 within the Mountain West in 2009).
• In 2024, TCU went 14-1 at dwelling in Schollmaier Arena, tied for probably the most wins at dwelling in a single season in program historical past.

SERIES HISTORY

• The all-time sequence between TCU and Pitt is tied 1-1. The two groups have not met since 2011 when the Frogs pulled out a 3-1 win in San Diego.

• Penn State and TCU have solely met as soon as within the historical past of the 2 packages. The Nittany Lions gained that match in straight units again in 2014 in State College, Pa.

 

SCOUTING REPORT

Ranked No. 3, Pitt opened the 2025 season final weekend, falling to No. 1 Nebraska and No. 16 Florida on the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Lincoln on Friday. The Panthers are led by 2024 National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, who returns for her junior season within the Blue and Gold. She’s additionally supported by Bre Kelley, a dominant presence on the internet, within the center and an skilled switch setter in Brooke Mosher.

 

No. 2 Penn State opened the 2025 season posting a 2-0 mark towards nationally ranked opponents with a sweep of No. 12 Creighton and a five-set comeback over No. 14 Kansas. The defending nationwide champions have excessive expectations this season after returning a core of 2024 National Freshman of the Year Izzy Starck, Caroline Jurevicius, Gillian Grimes and Emmi Sellman. The Nittany Lions additionally added All-American Kennedy Martin to the combination, who was one of many prime attackers within the NCAA final season.

For all the newest TCU volleyball information, comply with the Frogs on X at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.