Oct. 30, 2015
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Georgia Tech volleyball team (14-9, 5-6 ACC) dropped a heartbreaking five-set match at Syracuse (16-6, 7-4) Friday night. The match featured 34 tied scores and 17 lead changes as the first, fourth and fifth sets went to extra points.
How it Happened
The opening set was a back and forth battle. Georgia Tech trailed late in the set, 23-21, and worked back to tie it 24-24 and then again 25-25. The Yellow Jackets scored the final two points on kills from Annika Van Gunst and Ashley Askin to put the first game away, 27-25.
Syracuse regrouped and jumped out of the gate with a 10-4 lead. The Orange held on and won game two, 25-19, to even the match 1-1. The Orange stayed strong and were fast out of the gate in set three, eventually winning 25-16.
Tied late in game four, 20-20, Syracuse went on a 4-1 run to position itself with match point, 24-21. The Yellow Jackets didn’t give up and scored the next five points to win 26-24.
The Yellow Jackets overcame a 5-1 deficit in game five to tie it up 9-9. After four tied scores and with the Orange in the lead 15-14, Syracuse held on to win the set, 16-14, and match, 3-2, after a marathon rally.
Quote
“I think the team kept fighting to find ways to get into a rhythm, but we really did not take care of the ball the way we needed to maximize our opportunities for points,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “The easy points we gave away throughout the match ended up costing us the win.
“When you play at this level and against great teams every weekend you have to take advantage of those easier chances for points. I am proud of how we kept fighting, and we must turn the page and focus on our next challenge Sunday.”
Quick Hits
– Annika Van Gunst had a team-high five kills on seven swings with no errors in set one to hit .714. The Jackets out-hit the Orange in game one .371 to .167.
– Teegan Van Gunst tallied her 14th double-double of the season with 18 kills and a season-best 21 digs. Annika Van Gunst added a season-high 16 kills and 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, and Sydney Wilson had 17 kills on .464 hitting.
– Gabby Benda recorded her second double-double of the season with 22 assists and 10 digs.
– Ashley Askin put up a career-high 13 digs and Wimberly Wilson tallied a career-best 18 digs.
What’s Next
The Yellow Jackets take on the Boston College Eagles on Sunday at 12 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
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