THE FLATS – Upon No. 21 Georgia Tech volleyball’s undefeated run through its Georgia Tech Classic, the Yellow Jackets (7-1) claimed the tournament title as senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla won tournament MVP while junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann and senior setter Matti McKissock joined Brambilla on the all-tournament team, the participating coaches determined on Monday.
Brambilla was crowned Georgia Tech Classic MVP after sparking the Jacket attack through the tournament, piling up 44 kills to average four kills per set at an efficient .305 hitting percentage. The Brazilian also pitched in on the defensive end with a team-leading 32 digs as well as six total blocks. Her all-around efforts resulted in a pair of double doubles to move to four on the season. Brambilla kicked off the tournament against Mississippi State tying for the team lead in kills with 16 behind an exceptional .483 hitting percentage along with seven digs. The outside hitter followed that by spearheading the Jacket attack once again against Indiana, tallying 18 kills to go with 12 digs and four total blocks. Brambilla wrapped up the tournament with 10 kills and 13 digs against Oklahoma, now joining her third straight all-tournament team in as many weeks after being selected for the same honor following the UCF Challenge and Long Beach State Tournament.
After being a driving force behind Tech’s sweep of Mississippi State and 3-1 wins over Indiana and Oklahoma, Brambilla has posted some of the top numbers in the ACC. The senior leader is currently top five in the conference in kills per set (3.77), points (128.5) and points per set (4.28) on the year. Overall, Brambilla has totaled 113 kills, 85 digs, 17 total blocks and seven aces this season.
Bergmann’s selection to the Georgia Tech Classic all-tournament team adds another accolade to her already decorated season as she’s been named AVCA Player of the Week, ACC Player of the Week, UCF Challenge MVP and to the UCF Challenge and Long Beach State Tournament all-tournament teams to date. The powerful swinger drilled the most kills for the Jackets in the tournament with 51 at a rate of 4.64 kills per set while also compiling 29 digs, four aces and six total blocks (three solo, three assisted). To open the tournament, Bergmann tied with Brambilla for the team lead in kills against Mississippi State with 16 and picked up three aces to go with six digs. Against Indiana, the outside hitter posted a double double behind 13 kills and 10 digs as well as an ace and three total blocks. Bergmann exploded in her final contest of the weekend against Oklahoma, leading the Jackets with a season-high 22 kills paired with 13 digs for yet another double double, her sixth on the year.
On a national scale, Bergmann continues to boast some of the top marks in the country. The veteran is currently 26th in the nation in kills per set (4.47), 14th in points per set (5.32), 23rd in points (159.5), and 28th in total kills (134). Amongst the conference, those marks put her first in points per set, second in kills per set, fourth in points and fourth in total kills. She also leads the ACC in attacks per set (10.63) and is second in total attacks (319) this season. Through the first three weeks of the season, Bergmann leads Georgia Tech with 134 kills and is tied for the top mark in digs with 85 while also totaling 17 blocks (10 solo, seven assisted) and a team-high 12 aces.
McKissock furthered her role orchestrating the Tech offense over the weekend on the way to her first all-tournament honor this season, coming away with 117 assists (10.64 per set) along with 21 digs, four aces, four total blocks and a pair of kills on the weekend. The Windermere, Fla. Native dumped off 40 assists on top of eight digs in just three sets against Mississippi State before adding 35 assists with 10 digs for a double double opposite Indiana and another 42 assists while battling Oklahoma.
McKissock joins Brambilla and Bergmann with some of the top marks in the NCAA and the as she’s currently third in the conference and 18th in the country with 10.90 assists per set. Similarly, the mainstay at setter for the Jackets ranks second in the league with 316 total assists as she chases Georgia Tech history, currently ranking eighth in the program in career assists with 3,108. On the year, McKissock has also picked up 60 digs, 12 total blocks and six aces.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will hit the road for a neutral match with Arkansas on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Raleigh. N.C. Live coverage information will be provided here.
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