Kelley sisters collide during pitt, tcu women's volleyball match

Texas Christian University redshirt freshman Becca Kelley blocks an attack by Pitt during the State Farm Volleyball Showcase Sunday at PPG Paints Arena. Becca faced off against her sister, Bre, who plays for the Panthers. Josh Rizzo/Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges

PITTSBURGH - Becca Kelley and Bre Kelley exchanged plenty of talk heading into the matchup between the Pitt and TCU women's volleyball teams Sunday at the State Farm Volleyball Showcase.

The two sisters from Rockwall, Texas, were opponents for the first time. Bre and the third-ranked Panthers came away with a four-set win over the Horned Frogs. TCU, which was ranked No. 25, entered the season ranked for the first time in program history.

"Honestly, it fun," Bre Kelley said. "But also intimidating. The smack talk leading up to the game was intense. I just knew with the work being done and the way we were blocking that I would do good against her."

Bre ended up blocking Becca three times during the match. Becca, who is 6-foot-3, knew hitting over her sister, who is 6-4 wouldn't be easy.

"Brie's a giant," Becca said. "She's really, really good at volleyball, so there was definitely some high pressure there, but also just a lot, a lot of excitement to like go out there and be a dragon. That's one of our main things as a team, is to play as dragons and so a couple of those balls, I was really going for her hands to hit really hard and so, I mean, it was a great battle. She got those three step blocks on me, but there's always another opportunity to play her deeper into the season, so I'm excited for that."

Bre and Becca Kelley earned up being like a lot of athletes during the current climate of college sports. Both went far from home to different colleges after their time in Rockwall, Texas. Each chose to migrate to other programs.

Becca went to Oregon and didn't appear in any matches. She chose to come close to home and play at Texas Christian University, which is 59 miles from her hometown. Bre chose to head southeast and play for Florida. Once Bre left the Gators, she migrated north to Pittsburgh, about 1,590 miles from home.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo