LEXINGTON, Ky. – Georgia Tech volleyball (26-6, 14-4 ACC) was marked a season-high No. 8 in the final AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Women’s Poll, the AVCA announced on Monday.
The ranking ties the highest for the White and Gold in program history at a season’s end, joining the only other squad on The Flats to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in the 2003 Yellow Jackets. Including rankings throughout the season, the eight spot is tied for the fifth highest Tech has received in its 42-year history.
The Jackets finished among the top 10 in the AVCA’s national rankings for the first time this season and in the top 15 for the eighth consecutive time. Since appearing in the Top 25 at No. 12 on Sept. 30, 2020, Tech has been listed in 38 straight top 25 polls to date. The Jackets are joined in the final poll by No. 3 Louisville and No. 4 Pitt among the ACC ranks as the league fielded the second most teams finishing inside the top 10 among all conferences.
The Yellow Jackets were tabbed No. 7 in the NCAA’s Rating Percentage Index prior to NCAA tournament selections, holding their season-high rank for the third straight week. The White and Gold were seeded eighth in the NCAA tournament as they hosted the first two rounds and advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to No. 1 seed Louisville on its home floor.
Georgia Tech earned its final ranking following a flawless run of five sweeps, including three in the NCAA tournament over the likes of The Citadel in the first round, No. 20 WKU in the second round and No. 11 Ohio State in the Elite Eight prior to the season-ending battle with No. 3 Louisville. Tech has won 57 of its last 69 matches dating back to 2019. The Yellow Jackets have also won 35 of their last 40 matches at home in O’Keefe Gymnasium and earned a notable 10-2 record in true road matches this season, going 8-1 away from The Flats in ACC play.
On the year, Georgia Tech boasted some of the top numbers in the country, pacing the nation in both kills per set (15.18) and assists per set (13.90). The Jackets also placed sixth in the NCAA and second in the ACC in hitting percentage (0.291).
On an individual scale, Tech received three all-America honors, five regional awards and six yearly ACC recognitions. Under the tutelage of AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year Michelle Collier, junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann led the way for the Jackets as an AVCA First Team All-American, AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year, AVCA East Coast All-Region, ACC Player of the Year and First Team All-ACC. Senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla kept pace with Bergmann, also being named an AVCA First Team All-American, AVCA East Coast All-Region and First Team All-ACC. The Brazilian bombers became the first duo in program history to be named AVCA First Team All-Americans in the same year as Georgia Tech and the ACC as a whole had just one selection to the first team prior to this season, setter Kele Eveland in 2003.
Senior setter Matti McKissock rounded out the all-American awards as an Honorable Mention, AVCA East Coast All-Region and First Team All-ACC, while senior middle blocker Breland Morrissette garnered Second Team All-ACC honors and freshman outside hitter Bianca Bertolino was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team.
Bergmann was the driving force behind Tech’s vaunted attack, leading the ACC in both points and kills. On a national scale, her 577.5 points ranked 12th in the country while her 497 kills were good for 13th in the nation.
Reinforcing Bergmann’s efforts all season was Brambilla, who etched her name in the Yellow Jacket record books by skyrocketing into eighth in program history in career kills with 1,586. On the season, the explosive veteran trailed just behind Bergmann amongst the conference ranks, placing third in the ACC and 21st in the NCAA with 486 kills as well as third in the conference and 31st in the country with 534.5 points.
McKissock was the architect behind the Yellow Jackets’ strong assist numbers, leading the league and placing second in the nation in assists per set (11.81) while also topping the conference and finishing fifth in the country in assists (1,311) as she climbed through Georgia Tech history. McKissock now owns the third most career assists in school history while leading the program in career assists during the 25-point rally scoring era with 4,103.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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