Sept. 29, 2005
The Georgia Tech volleyball team (4-6, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) packs its bags for the state of Florida for two ACC matches this weekend. The Jackets will face Florida State (3-7, 1-1 ACC) Friday at 7 p.m. in Tallahassee followed by a match Sunday at 1 p.m. against Miami (6-4, 1-1 ACC) in Coral Gables.
Friday’s match marks the 30th time that the Jackets have faced the Seminoles, with Tech holding the series’ edge 23-6. Tech took the only meeting between the two schools last year and has not lost to the Seminoles since the 2001 season. The Jackets hold an all-time record of 7-5 in Tully Gym.
The match against the Seminoles will be broadcast over the internet at www.seminoles.collegesports.com/multimedia/volleyball2005.html while fans may also follow livestats at www.ramblinwreck.com.
“Florida State has played a lot of tough teams in the early part of the season just like we have, and has not quite felt the success, just like us,” said head coach Bond Shymansky. “Regardless of their record, they are a good team with dynamic hitters in Kristen Rust and Andreza Santos and they are getting some good play out of other players in their lineup. They are always a tough, gritty team in their own gym and will be a tough challenge for us.”
On Sunday, the Jackets will return to action against the Hurricanes in a match that marks the first time Tech has played in the Knight Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Miami. Last season the two teams faced one another in Atlanta for their first meeting ever, with Tech winning in three games.
Sunday’s match will be broadcast over the internet at www.wvum.org or fans may follow livestats at www.ramblinwreck.com
“Our trip to Miami will be a new environment and a new experience for us,” said Shymansky. “We know that they are a quality program and have had a lot of success this year. They are receiving a lot of leadership out of their setter, Jill Robinson, and they have a powerful hitter in Karla Johnson and a great middle attack with Francheska Savage and Ciara Michel that’s going to make them a force to handle this weekend.”
“This weekend will be a challenge for us with playing on the road and in a new arena,” said Shymansky. “But, there is no doubt that we are getting better as a team and we’re competing and fighting for every point. We are getting better production out of our freshmen, which is what we need to do to be successful. As a coaching staff we are definitely encouraged and we have a lot of matches yet to play this season and our team continues to work hard and is developing that hunger to win.”
