Oct. 12, 2011
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech Volleyball team (10-7, 3-4 ACC) coming off of a 2-0 weekend over Maryland and Boston College will venture out on a five-game road trip beginning this weekend in the Sunshine State against two ranked squads.
The Jackets will first head to Tallahassee to take on No. 21 Florida State (13-4, 7-0) Friday night at 7 p.m. and then travel to Miami for a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee against the No. 23 Hurricanes (14-2, 5-2).
The Jackets, who had a successful weekend dropping just one set in wins over Maryland (3-1) and Boston College (3-0), will face their toughest test of the season with this road trip. Florida State is still perfect in conference play while Miami’s two losses this season have both come in conference play, to Florida State and most recently, at North Carolina.
Tech holds the series lead with both teams, edging the Hurricanes 7-6 while dominating the Seminoles 29-12. In the last ten games, Tech is 5-5 overall and 3-2 on the road against both squads. Two of Tech’s three victories over Florida State have come when they are ranked an on their home court.
Head Coach Tonya Johnson is 2-2 overall against both schools in her tenure at Georgia Tech.
Last season, Tech split with the Seminoles sweeping them on the road, but later falling at home by the same results. Tech is currently on a two-game win streak over Miami after sweeping the season series last year. In the last 10 games with Miami, none have ended in a 3-0 result and five have gone all five sets (Tech is 2-3 during that time).
Junior Monique Mead continues to lead the ACC in kills per set and is third in the nation at 4.98. She also lead the ACC in points per set and ranks second in the country with 5.67. The Newnan, Ga., native has five double-doubles this season, eight matches with at least 20 kills and has recorded double figure kills in each match this season. Mead is also averaging 2.60 digs per set and 0.89 blocks. Her 27 kills against NC State ranked third in the ACC this season, behind her own performances against Louisville and Furman.
The Jackets have a dual threat at the setter position as Freshman Ali Santi is third in the ACC dishing out 10.89 assists per set. Her 60 assists against NC State was good enough for second most in a game in the ACC this season and also improved her assists/set in league play to 11.00, good enough for third. She has five double-doubles this season.
This past weekend, Kaleigh Colson took the majority of the sets for the Jackets dishing out 63 against Maryland and Boston College to bring her season total to 244. Colson also has a knack for finding the open spots on the court and has recorded 31 kills this year (nine last weekend) and 16 service aces which ranks second on the team. Colson’s aces have helped Tech to a league best 1.32 aces per set (1.52/set in ACC play).
