ATLANTA — After surviving two close contests last weekend against Duke and Wake Forest, the Georgia Tech (19-4, 9-1) volleyball team heads to Clemson, SC to take on the Tigers (9-13, 4-6) at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 27. The Jackets enter the match tied with North Carolina for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, and currently on a 10-match win streak.
“Because we are sitting in first place tied with North Carolina and because we have beaten most of these teams earlier in the year, we are now one of the hunted teams in the conference,” said head coach Shelton Collier. “Now teams are entering matches very motivated and very hungry to avenge earlier losses that they suffered to us and also hungry to win matches to have successful seasons. I think inevitably there could be a little complacency which sets in and when a complacent team goes against a very hungry team, it can be a very difficult match. I was glad that we were able to respond and pull out wins, which is the most important thing for us.”
Clemson and Tech met earlier this season in O’Keefe Gymnasium, with the Jackets winning easily in three games, 15-7, 15-5, 15-6. In that match the Jackets were led by Maja Pachale who had 22 kills on 34 attempts (.529) and recorded 10 digs. Eida Mabry also chipped in 12 kills and Kyleen Bell notched four blocks and two service aces.
“The last time we played Clemson, they did not have their starting setter, Jesse Betcher, who I believe is the best setter in the ACC,” said Collier. “Certainly when they played us before they were short-handed and I am sure they would admit they did not play very well at Georgia Tech. The combination of them being very motivated because of losing to us before, and motivated by having their star setter back, is going to make it a very difficult match for us.”
The two teams have met every year since Tech joined the ACC in 1983. Clemson holds the series edge, 21-8, and the Jackets have not won a match in Jervey Gym since 1996. The Jackets have won only twice since Collier joined the Tech program.
“Clemson is a very tough place to play,” said Collier. “They play in a unique, small facility, they have great crowd support and their team always plays very well there. Georgia Tech has struggled there in recent years, and we have not played our best volleyball at Clemson. I think for us to beat Clemson in their gym, we are going to have to play very well and hopefully we will be able to put an end to the three-year streak of consecutive losses.”
Tech is looking for its 20th win of the season, something which has not been done since the 1998 season.
“I haven’t thought about the number of wins as much as I have tought about trying to position ourselves for the ACC tournament and the NCAA Tournament,” said Collier. “We are in a very good position for NCAA Tournament selection. I also believe that we are in the hunt to win the regular season in the ACC, if we continue to play they way we have recently.”
