Inside The Panthers

Pitt Panthers Help US Win Gold At Pan American Cup

Panthers head coach Dan Fisher and setter Rachel Fairbanks led tam USA to a gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Panthers Help US Win Gold At Pan American Cup
Pitt Panthers Help US Win Gold At Pan American Cup /
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PITTSBURGH -- Dan Fisher has led the Pitt Panthers to unprecedented heights during his nine-year tenure as head coach of the volleyball program and just this weekend, he added an international gold medal to his resume. Fisher and Rachel Fairbanks USA Volleyball's U21 women's team won Pan American Cup with a 3-1 victory over Argentina on Sunday at the La Paz Arena in Baja California. This is the second time that the USA has won the title, with the first coming in 2017.

The Panthers' head coach took on this role coaching the American team in May and brought sophomore setter, Rachel Fairbanks, along with him. Fairbanks started and helped the Americans nearly double Argentina in hitting efficiency - the U.S. held a .234 to .123 advantage. 

The US won the first set and, after withstanding a loss in the second and furious opening rally in the third from Argentina, secured the victory with wins in sets three and four. 

"I think the players were feeling a little tense for a while, but we worked through it and settled down in our reception," Fisher said. "We also got some nice energy from players coming off the bench and ended the fourth set playing good volleyball. Argentina is very good and put a lot of stress on us with their serves, but that's what good teams do."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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