FT. COLLINS, COLO – In the final match of the Coors Light Classic, the Georgia Tech (9-3) volleyball team fell to fourth-ranked Colorado State (11-1) in three games, 6-15, 6-15, 2-15 on September 16.
In front of 1289 fans, Georgia Tech looked like it might be the spoiler as they jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in game one as the Rams had four unforced errors and Maja Pachale (Schwerin, Germany) connected for a kill. Colorado State would soon settle down and tie the game at six-a-piece on a kill from the tournament MVP Angela Knopf. The Rams took the lead and captured game one as Tech had seven errors which led to Colorado State points.
Game two was much like the first, as Tech continued to side-out with the Rams, but had difficulty putting points on the board. Colorado State led 12-3 before Tech managed to score three points behind kills from Pachale and Teryl Townsend (Alexandria, Minn.). Two kills from all-tournament selection Summer Jennings helped capture game two for the Rams.
In game three, the Jackets never managed to get into an offensive rhythm and their passing began to struggle, allowing Colorado State to jump out to an 11-2 lead. Tech hit a season-low -.172 in the game, while the Rams capitalized on Tech mistakes and hit .406.
The Yellow Jackets were led by Pachale who had 15 kills and three digs, and all-tournament selection Kyleen Bell (Rocklin, Calif.) who had seven kills and eight digs. Townsend chipped in six kills and three block assists while all-tournament selection Kele Eveland (Grand Rapids, Mich.) notched 31 assists and seven digs in the match.
Georgia Tech returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday as its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule opens in Chapel Hill, NC, against North Carolina.
