CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Despite a career-best performance from senior Lauren Frerking, Georgia Tech volleyball (13-10, 2-8 ACC) dropped the final match of its road swing to Miami (11-6, 7-3) 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Georgia Tech 1, Miami 3
The first set was close the whole way. Miami took a three-point edge at 18-15 and Georgia Tech called the first timeout of the set. The Hurricanes pushed their lead to four but three-straight kills from Frerking got Tech back on track and within one at 19-18. Miami took another three-point lead and the Jackets called their second timeout of the set, trailing 22-19. Tech took two in a row coming out of the timeout to come within one at 22-21 on a block from junior Kodie Comby and sophomore Grace Rigsbee and Miami called timeout. The Hurricanes stayed ahead and closed out the set at 25-22 to lead 1-0.
Miami carried the momentum into the second set, jumping to a 7-3 lead and Tech called a timeout. The Hurricanes extended their lead to as many as eight but the Jackets reigned it back in to trail 17-12 on a kill from freshman Mikaila Dowd. Tech kept fighting but the set remained out of reach and Miami took the 2-0 lead at 25-19.
Tech bounced back to kick off the third set, rolling to a 10-4 lead on a kill from Dowd to cause Miami to use a timeout. The Jackets stayed after it, leading by as many as nine at 22-13 on a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla. The Hurricanes came within five at 22-15 and the Jackets called a timeout. Tech took two in a row coming out of the timeout to reach set point at 24-15 and a kill from Dowd sealed the set for the Jackets at 25-16 to force a fourth.
Tech took an early lead in the fourth on back-to-back aces from Brambilla but the Hurricanes tied it up at 6-6. The teams battled back and forth, trading points to a tie at 11-11 before the Hurricanes snuck ahead. Tech kept it close, tying the set back up at 14-14 on a block from Rigsbee and freshman Kayla Kaiser. Miami pushed back ahead and Tech called timeout with the score at 18-14. The Hurricanes moved their lead to six at 22-16 and the Jackets used their second timeout of the set. The Hurricanes didn’t let up and took the fourth set at 25-16 for the 3-1 win.
Up next:
The Jackets return to O’Keefe for three-straight weekends for their final five home matches of the regular season. Tech hosts North Carolina and NC State next weekend on Friday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 28, respectively.
Tech tidbits:
- Lauren Frerking had a career-high 10 kills.
- Mikaila Dowd led the Jackets with 13 kills.
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