Sept. 11, 2015
LINCOLN, Neb. – In its first match of the Nebraska Ameritas Players Challenge Friday evening, the Georgia Tech volleyball team (8-1) defeated the USF Bulls (2-5), 3-1, at the Devaney Sports Center.
How it Happened
Georgia Tech trailed early in the first set 11-7 and worked back to take a 17-16 lead. USF regrouped and accelerated to a 21-18 lead, but the Jackets won the next five points to win 25-21. The momentum stayed in favor of Georgia Tech in game two with the Yellow Jackets winning 25-17.
Set three was a back and forth battle. The Bulls led late in the set 23-20, but Georgia Tech didn’t quit and pulled within one, 24-23, to force a USF timeout. The Bulls got the point they needed, 25-23, to force a fourth set.
Set four was a tightly contest game that featured 11 tied scores and six lead changes, but the Yellow Jackets snared the win, 25-23.
Quote
“Great team effort tonight to come out with the win,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “Our middles played a big role offensively for us, and Gabriela [Stavnetchei] did a great job coming in and being very efficient.”
Quick Hits
– Tech has won seven games in a row for the first time since 2010.
– Sophomore Sydney Wilson recorded a career-high 18 kills and five digs.
– Wilson hit at .452, and junior Teegan Van Gunst led all players with 21 kills on 41 swings with just five errors for a .390 hitting clip. Sophomore Ashley Askin added 10 kills.
– Sophomore Gabriela Stavnetchei had a career-high six kills on nine swings with one error for a .556 hitting percentage. Sophomore Anna Kavalchuk (3k-0e-7a – .429) and junior Lauren Pitz (4k-0e-9a – .444) were also key contributors for Tech.
– Teegan Van Gunst tallied 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, while junior London Ackermann tallied 17 digs.
– Georgia Tech put down a season-best 67 kills, and out-hit USF .336 to .253.
– Head coach Michelle Collier (2002) and assistant coach Marcela Oliveira (2010) are two of the greatest volleyball players in USF history.
What’s Next
Georgia Tech continues action at the Nebraska Ameritas Players Challenge with a pair of matches Saturday. Tech plays UC Davis at 1 p.m. ET and wraps up its time in Lincoln, Neb. with a 4:30 p.m. ET matchup against No. 5 Nebraska.
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