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Abby Schnable's Pitt sports chat: 12.23.25
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Abby Schnable
1:00
Hello everyone! It's been a minute since I've been on the live chat and I'm excited to get to all your questions. We've got a nice variety so let's go ahead and get started.
SufferingBob
1:00
The question on the minds of all Pitt football fans...will he stay or will he go? #6
Abby Schnable
1:02
Considering he’s playing in the bowl game, I’d be pretty shocked if he left. He’s got a starting spot waiting for him if he keeps progressing, and he likely saw a pay bump too — all signs point to Heintschel being QB1 in 2026.
Retire21
1:02
With the expansion of the ACC, it looks like every member would only get a Notre Dame home game like every six years. Is ND’s importance less now? I especially didn’t like the shots they took at Miami over the playoff.
Abby Schnable
1:05
I don’t think Notre Dame’s importance is less, but it’s definitely different now. With the ACC so big, ND home games feel rarer and more novelty than necessity and the playoff comments rubbed people the wrong way because ND still benefits from brand power without playing a full conference slate like everyone else.
redoutt57@gmail.com
1:05
Any update on players sitting out Military Bowl?
Abby Schnable
1:06
As far as I know, only Kyle Louis and Desmond Reid are for sure not playing since they're going to the draft  — as well as the handful of players who have jumped into the transfer portal (Juelz Goff, Jackson Brown, etc). I haven't heard about any other players and especially none of the other big names.
DD
1:06
If Pitt would have finished 9-3, not losing to Louisville, what would the most realistic bowl scenario for them have been?
Abby Schnable
1:09
If Pitt finishes 9–3 and avoids that Louisville loss, they’re probably in the Pop-Tarts or Gator Bowl range as a strong ACC at-large. The CFP bowls are still a stretch, but you’re talking about a New Year’s Day–adjacent game against a quality SEC or Big Ten team.
Dion
1:09
Just saw Petrone's tweet "PITT IS IT!!!" Is Izzy Starck transferring to Pitt?
Mike
1:09
What have you heard regarding Pitt’s new volleyball commit today?
John
1:09
Who is the KP tweet from today in reference to??
Dion70
1:09
With Petrone's "PITT IS IT!!!" tweet what are the chances that Izzy Starck is transferring to PItt
Abby Schnable
1:11
Lots of interest about Kellen Petrone's "Pitt is It" tweet so I figured I'd loop them all together. All signs are pointing to Izzy Starck. I heard her official visit went well and since then she's been following everyone on the team on social media — including some of the 2026 commits. It would be a huge get for Pitt. That'd be the 2023 and 2024 AVCA Freshman of the Year on Pitt's roster in Olivia Babcock and Izzy Starck.
GoPittVBall
1:12
Any news coming from Pitt Volleyball on which players or what positions they are focusing on in the transfer portal? We need a new setter and our back row receiving/passing seemed to struggle against Texas A&M. Hoping they can find the right pieces for Babcock’s last year to put Pitt over the top.
Abby Schnable
1:14
I'd imagine they're prioritizing middle blocker and libero right now, especially if setter Izzy Starck is coming to Pitt. I think MB is probably top priority since they're down to just Abbey Emch on the roster. Libero is a close second with the serve/receive issues that they were plagued with all season. I do imagine that Izzy Masten is going to take a huge leap with a full offseason at Pitt.
JC
1:14
Inadvertently hit send on my earlier submission. I feel like middle blocker and liberal are by far Pitt’s biggest need in the portal. As far as setter goes, I get the hype around Izzy Stark, but they a have a top 20 recruit in Izzy Hoppe coming in. Doesn’t that complicate things if they end up with both Stark and Hoppe?
Abby Schnable
1:15
I answered the first half of this above, but yeah setter is interesting. The coaching staff has been big on Isabelle Hoppe for a while now. If Starck has three years of eligibility, that doesn't leave much playing time for Hoppe. I'm sure it'll be an absolute battle for a starting role as both of them — as well as Haiti Tautua'a — are talented setters.
Lad9
1:16
Hi Abby.  First, Merry Christmas, good luck with your surgery, and thank you for your great volleyball and football coverage.  It has been really cool to see you grow as a journalist since you have been with the PG!  My question is a Pitt one, but on a beat where we don't see much from  The Pitt women's hoop team is really struggling, and the vibe does not look positive at all. I have watched most of their games, and I don't really see many, if any, positives.  Do you know why the touted five star recruit, Nyah Wilson, has not played since game six?  It does not look like she is even on the bench.  I was hoping that she would at least provide some energy,  Thank you!
Abby Schnable
1:19
Merry Christmas — and thank you so much, I really appreciate that. I’ll be honest, since I don’t cover Pitt WBB closely, I don’t have specific insight on Nyah Wilson’s absence, and the program hasn’t shared much publicly, which usually points to something like an internal, injury or personal situation. From the outside, it’s been tough because you’re right — they could really use her energy right now, but it’s hard to read too much into it without more information from the team.
Orest
1:19
a few questions on Pitt basketball. When do we expect Kante back and did he have any procedures on his knee. Also, any players on the roster leave the program?
Abby Schnable
1:22
I know Kante had a procedure done in September of last year, but as far as I know there hasn't been anything this year. Knee swelling is difficult because it's probably a day to day injury. He could be back for the Miami game at the end of the month or he might not be back for longer.

In terms of the roster, Amdy Ndiaye is no longer on the roster. There haven't been details shared about the situation, but considering his lack of playing time — I wouldn't be surprised if that was part of it.
D9 Dave
1:22
Do you think that Pitt AD Allen Greene is getting a little frustrated with the basketball program's lack of progress in terms of conference success or tournament success under Jeff Capel?  Capel seems to be a good recruiter and is signed through the 2029-30 season but it just doesn't seem to be translating in the win-loss column.  Injuries and bad luck aside this is a program that should be further along in Capel's 8th season.
Abby Schnable
1:25
It’s fair to wonder that and I think some level of frustration would be natural. Allen Greene is clearly competitive and results-driven. Capel has recruited well, but the lack of sustained conference or tournament success eight seasons in is hard to ignore. That said, Capel wasn’t Greene’s hire and he’s under contract long-term, so any evaluation likely balances patience with the expectation that the program needs to show tangible progress sooner rather than later.
Bruce
1:25
Hi Abby! Happy Holidays! So we are getting close to the Military Bowl and I'm pretty psyched about the opportunity to pick up that ninth win. East  Carolina is an interesting opponent. Any thoughts on the match-up?
Abby Schnable
1:27
Happy holidays! ECU is interesting, but they’re pretty short-handed, while Pitt is expecting to have most of its heavy hitters available. With the talent gap — even accounting for Desmond Reid and Kyle Louis — this really feels like Pitt’s game to lose if they take care of the ball and control the line of scrimmage.
Jeremy
1:28
Do you know which of the incoming freshmen for Pitt VB will be joining the team in the spring?
Abby Schnable
1:30
Hey Jeremy. I know for a fact that outside hitter Ayanna Watson and setter Isabelle Hoppe will be there in January. I'm not 100% sure about Jessica Smallwood, Lola Sageer or Trinity Thompson. It's becoming more common for VB players to graduate early though so I wouldn't be surprised if all five are there.
Adam
1:31
Between these two, do you think Pitt volleyball will get more production in 2026 from its incoming freshman class, or from new transfers?
Abby Schnable
1:33
I'd anticipate transfers, simply because you're looking at probably two in a starting role — setter and middle blocker. That number could be three with libero, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Izzy Masten takes a big jump in the offseason and wins the role. As far as freshman, I'm only projecting OH Ayanna Watson as a starter. She'll have to beat out a handful of returners. So, numbers wise it's transfers, but you can't count these freshman out.
PittWVBFan
1:33
Love your reporting, thanks for keeping Pitt in the spotlight! Any theories on why the Pitt women's volleyball team just can't get over the final four hump? Nerves? Mental resilience? Lottery nature of the playoffs?
Abby Schnable
1:39
The way I see it, the first two Final Fours in ’21 and ’22 were a mix of shock and inexperience. Dan Fisher often says the first one they truly felt they deserved was 2024. The ’23 and ’24 teams were expected to make it, but nerves and team dynamics still played a role. This year is different — I wouldn’t even put it in the same conversation as the first four. The team outperformed expectations, losing four All-Americans and relying on many players who hadn’t been in this position before, so nerves and inexperience hit even harder.
Bruce
1:39
So East Carolina has lost a few key players and coaches heading into the Military Bowl. Any idea on who will be replacing them and how it will affect the game?
Abby Schnable
1:42
ECU hasn’t shared many specifics on who’ll step in for the players and coaches they’re missing, so it’s hard to say exactly how it’ll shake out. I'd assume any backups that are available will be the ones in the mix. From the outside, though, losing that much experience usually makes things tougher for them and should give Pitt an edge if they play smart and protect the ball.
Phil
1:42
Hello, Abby. Enjoy your work. Do you know if Narduzzi is looking to the portal for additional offensive or defensive linemen?
Abby Schnable
1:45
He definitely should be. Most of both lines return — only losing Jeff Persi and Jackson Brown on the O-line, and Blaine Spires, Joey Zelinsky and Nate Temple on the D-line. The defensive line is strong with Jimmy Scott, Francis Brewu, Isaiah Neal, Sean FitzSimmons and Nick James coming back, so adding players there is mostly about depth. On the offensive line, though, this group has struggled in recent seasons, so bringing in more players can only help push competition and hopefully improve the unit overall.
Bruce
1:45
Well, Pitt just completed another successful volleyball season. It was tough to come up a little short, but Texas A&M played like a team possessed! It's a little early, but how does next year's team look?
Abby Schnable
1:49
I’ve been saying since the 2024 Final Four that 2026 is the year, and I still stand by that. Even with some departures, Pitt just needs a bit more depth at middle blocker and a stronger libero. If the rumors are true and Izzy Starck, a national champion, is coming in, that’s huge. Olivia Babcock keeps them a contender, and the Panthers are already stacked at OH — Ayanna Watson joining as a HS POTY finalist only adds to that. Izzy Masten and Marina Pezelj should also take big steps after a full offseason with Fisher. This team has the potential to be Pitt’s best yet.
2:00
That's going to do it for this week's live chat. Stephen will be back next week to answer all your questions. I'll be out for a bit due to a procedure, but look forward to talking all things Pitt sports once I'm back. Thanks guys!
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