Aug 30, 2013
Box Score | Tournament Central
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-17, 25-17) against the Florida A&M Rattlers in the teams’ season opener at the Georgia Tech Invitational at O’Keefe Gym. The Yellow Jackets face Chattanooga later Friday at 7 p.m. to conclude the first day of the tournament.
“Offensively we did some good things,” head coach Tonya Johnson said. “I thought our defense was pretty solid. From a blocking standpoint we could have had a block or two more per set. I’m happy with the fact that we stayed steady and poised. We didn’t get too up and down. We just need to take better care of the ball, especially on the first contact.”
Freshman Teegan Van Gunst led the squad with 11 kills, while seniors Ivona Kolak and Kaleigh Colson contributed nine apiece. Defensively, the Jackets were balanced as four players recorded at least seven digs led by Colson’s eight.
The Rattlers were led by Scharae Steel with 10 kills and Joanie Del Castillos’ 10 digs, but it wasn’t enough as the Yellow Jackets recorded a .313 hitting percentage to Florida A&M’s .084 hitting clip.
The opening stanza was neck-and-neck, but three consecutive kills from Teegan Van Gunst gave the Jackets an 11-9 lead. Georgia Tech added to its lead behind the serving of freshman London Ackermann, who went on a six-point run, extending the gap to 21-14.
With the Yellow Jackets poised at set point, 24-17, the Rattlers were able to pull within five at 24-19, but a kill from Teegan Van Gunst put the set away.
The Jackets carried their momentum from game one and jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the second set. Tech improved its advantage to 17-9 again behind the serving of Ackermann, and key kills from Teegan Van Gunst and Kolak. Georgia Tech held on and never looked back, winning the second set 25-17 and holding the Rattlers to a -.091 hitting percentage.
Georgia Tech put together a solid third game led by Jennifer Percy’s five kills. With the score knotted 10-10 Georgia Tech took the lead for good on a Kolak kill and defeated the Rattlers 25-17 to clench the sweep.
The Yellow Jackets wrap up day one of the Georgia Tech Invitational tonight at 7 p.m. against Chattanooga. All home matches will be broadcast on WREK, 91.1 FM in Atlanta and are available via GameTracker on RamblinWreck.com. All home matches will also be available live to All-Access subscribers.
