Nov. 23, 2005
The 2005 Georgia Tech volleyball season will come to a close this weekend as the Yellow Jackets will travel to the state of Virginia to take on the Hokies and Cavaliers. The Jackets (15-14, 11-9 ACC) will take on Virginia Tech (11-18, 6-14 ACC) Friday at 3 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. meeting Saturday with the Cavaliers (19-10, 14-6 ACC).
Friday’s match with Virginia Tech marks just the 5th meeting between the two schools with the Yellow Jackets holding the series advantage, 3-1. Earlier this season the Yellow Jackets defeated the Hokies in five games. In that match, four Georgia Tech players ended the match with double-figure kills with Laura DeMichelis leading the way with 19 while Lindsey Laband recorded 52 assists and 11 digs.
“Virginia Tech is a team much like ourselves who has lost some disappointing matches over the last half of the season,” said head coach Bond Shymansky. “They played us a very good match in Atlanta earlier this year and even when we had their backs to the walls, they kept fighting. It is their final weekend of matches this season, as well, and I’m sure they will be extra motivated to work hard in their own gym.”
Saturday’s match with Virginia marks the 38th meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers with Tech leading the series, 23-14. After leading 2-0 in Atlanta, Virginia fought back and tied the match at 2-2 but Georgia Tech won the fifth and final game, 22-20. In that match, Talisa Kellogg recorded 35 kills, the most kills recorded by any ACC player this season.
“Our match against Virginia this year was a great contest and quite honestly, either team could have ended up the winner,” said Shymansky. “Virginia has a great offense in Sarah Kirkwood and Shannon Davis and both were very hard for us to handle when we played them earlier this year. We saw earlier this season that their ball control and defense is really sharp and playing on their home floor will be an even bigger challenge than we faced in Atlanta.”
“This weekend is an opportunity for us to make a statement with where we are as a program and what the future holds for Georgia Tech volleyball,” said Shymanksy. “In addition, we have three seniors who want to end their careers here on a positive note and I’m sure the team will do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”
