Oct. 18, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech volleyball team (7-12, 1-6 ACC) fell in straight sets (21-25, 21-25, 20-25) to the No. 24 Duke Blue Devils (15-3, 6-1) Friday on Alumni Night at O’Keefe Gym.
Senior Jennifer Percy led Tech’s offense with nine kills and senior Quinn Evans added five kills with a team-high three blocks. The digging effort of freshman London Ackermann led the team (12 digs), but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Duke offense, which hit .228 to Tech’s .138 hitting clip.
Spurred by a loud O’Keefe Gymnasium, Georgia Tech jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and opened that up to 6-2 in the first frame. The Yellow Jackets were on a roll and up 14-11, when Duke mounted a five-point rally sparked by three Tech attacking errors and two service aces to take the lead for good, 16-14. The Blue Devils used that momentum to win the set, 25-21.
Duke took the lead from the opening serve in set two and didn’t let go. Down 23-16, the Jackets strung together three-points behind the serving of Ackermann, to pull within four, 23-19. With Duke poised at set point, 24-19, Tech threatened with two additional points thanks to a kill by Chanell Clark-Bibbs and an Ivona Kolak service ace, but the Blue Devils closed the door, 25-21, on a kill from Emily Skylar.
Georgia Tech came out of the break with a renewed energy in the third game, battling Duke point-for-point. The Blue Devils managed to go up by three, 13-10, but the Jackets went to work and tied it 14-14 on an ace by Ackermann. Duke found its rhythm behind the serving of Chelsea Cook to take a 22-17 lead and stayed in rhythm to win the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
The Jackets are back in action Sunday when they host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. First serve is set for 1 p.m. at O’Keefe Gym.
For an inside look at the program, follow Georgia Tech volleyball on Twitter, @GTVolleyball, Instagram, GTVolleyball, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, Georgia Tech Volleyball.
