LEXINGTON, Ky. – Georgia Tech volleyball (21-5, 12-4 ACC) was marked No. 14 in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Women’s Poll, the AVCA announced on Monday.
The Yellow Jackets remain among the top 15 in the nation for the sixth straight week after making their initial appearance at No. 13 in the AVCA’s rankings. Since appearing in the Top 25 at No. 12 on Sept. 30, 2020, Tech has been listed in 36 straight top 25 polls to date. The Jackets are joined in the poll by No. 1 Louisville and No. 3 Pitt among the ACC ranks.
The Yellow Jackets remained at No. 6 in the NCAA’s Rating Percentage Index, holding their season-high rank for the third straight week. The White and Gold were also slated No. 9 in the NCAA Selection Committee’s first rankings of the season for matches played through Oct. 27.
Georgia Tech earns its rank following a slugfest with No. 3 Pitt in which the Jackets took the first set and led the match in most every major statistical category despite the Panthers escaping with a win to even the season series. Tech has won 53 of its last 64 matches dating back to 2019. The Yellow Jackets have also won 32 of their last 37 matches at home in O’Keefe Gymnasium and are a notable 9-1 in true road matches this season, going 7-1 away from The Flats in ACC play.
On the year, Georgia Tech boasts some of the top numbers in the country, pacing the nation in kills per set (15.04) and assists per set (13.76). The Jackets are also currently seventh in the NCAA and second in the ACC in hitting percentage (0.293).
Junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann has been the driving force behind Tech’s vaunted attack, leading the ACC in both points per set and kills per set. On a national scale, her 5.38 points per set rank ninth in the country while her 4.68 kills per set are good for 12th in the nation.
Reinforcing Bergmann’s efforts all season has been senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla, who recently etched her name in the Yellow Jacket record books by skyrocketing into eighth in program history in career kills with 1,491 to date. After piling up a season-high 24 kills to go with 16 digs against No. 3 Pitt, the explosive veteran trails just behind Bergmann amongst the conference ranks, placing third in the ACC with both 4.20 kills per set and 4.68 points per set.
Senior setter Matti McKissock has been the architect behind the Yellow Jackets’ strong assist numbers, leading the ACC and placing fourth in the NCAA in assists per set (11.68) as she continues her climb in Georgia Tech history. McKissock currently owns the third most career assists in school history while leading the program in career assists during the 25-point rally scoring era with 3,867 to date.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will close out the regular season with matches on both sides of Thanksgiving Day, first hosting Clemson before the season finale at Florida State. The Yellow Jackets will first take on the Tigers on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium, then wrap up regular season play with the finale against the Seminoles on Friday at 6 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla. Coverage information will be provided here.
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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