Oct. 10, 2014
THE FLATS – In a back-and-forth battle that featured 49 tied scores and 21 lead changes, the Georgia Tech volleyball team (9-9, 2-3 ACC) outlasted the NC State Wolfpack (12-4, 1-3 ACC) in four sets, 3-1 (25-16, 28-26, 26-28, 29-27), Friday on Alumni Night at O’Keefe Gym.
“I think we’re learning how to bring our energy and our intensity consistently,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “I thought we did a great job serving tonight and much better than we have been in close matches in the past. It’s good to see that maturity and that learning curve, keeping the pressure on the other side and making the other team earn the point.
“I think defensively we played great. We did what we wanted to do against them. Everybody had contributed in their own way. It was a great team effort.”
Annika Van Gunst (18 kills), Teegan Van Gunst (11) and Courtney Felinski (13) comprised the Jackets’ balanced offense with Lauren Pitz adding six kills and Rebecca Martin had five. Annika Van Gunst and Teegan Van Gunst put up double-doubles with 12 and 19 digs, respectively. London Ackermann put up a career-high 27 digs and several second-chance balls to keep rallies alive.
At the net, the Jackets tallied 11 blocks with Sydney Wilson and Teegan Van Gunst tallying seven and six block assists, respectively.
Tech jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back in game one. The Jackets won the opening set 25-16, holding the Wolfpack to a .086 hitting percentage.
Tied 17-17 in set two, the two teams traded points back and forth with neither team leading by more than two. The Pack had set point 26-25, but the Jackets went to work and scored the next three-straight to win 28-26.
The third set was just as tight of a game as set two. The momentum pendulum swung from side to side and rested with the Wolfpack as NC State broke a 26-26 tie with two in a row to win, 28-26.
In set four, the Wolfpack had set point 24-23 and it looked like the match was headed to five sets, but Tech rattled off two points and was poised at match point 25-24. The Jackets had match point three times before they were able to put away the set, 29-27, and the match, 3-1, on a solo block by Teegan Van Gunst.
The Jackets are back in action Sunday, Oct. 12 at Clemson in Jervey Gym. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
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