THE FLATS – With a career night from freshman Mariana Brambilla, Georgia Tech volleyball (11-7, 1-4 ACC) completed a 3-2 comeback win over Clemson (9-9, 0-5) for its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season on Wednesday night in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
Georgia Tech 3, Clemson 2
The opening set was a close contest. The teams tied their way to a score of 16-16 until a huge kill from sophomore Grace Rigsbee put the Jackets ahead by two at 18-16 and Clemson called the first timeout of the set. The Tigers stole the lead at 20-19 and Tech called a timeout. The Jackets tied the set back up at 22-22 on a kill from senior Lauren Frerking. Clemson took set point at 24-23 but a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla kept the Jackets alive. Clemson took set point again and this time finished out the set, 26-24.
The Tigers used a 6-0 run in the beginning of the second set to grab a 7-2 lead over the Jackets. Back-to-back kills from junior Kodie Comby got the Jackets offense going again. Tech fought its way back to tie the set at 9-9 as Brambilla knocked a kill of the block. The Tigers snuck ahead again but the Jackets took back the lead at 12-11 on a kill from Frerking. Sophomore Sam Knapp landed a service ace to put Tech ahead by two at 15-13. Brambilla recorded her eighth kill of the match to move the score to 18-16 and Clemson called timeout. The Tigers clawed their way back to tie the set at 20-20 and Tech called timeout. The Jackets took back the lead at 23-22 on a block from Comby and Rigsbee. Tech reached set point at 24-23 and 25-24 but the Tigers had a response each time. Clemson went up at 26-25 for set point however a kill from sophomore Cori Clifton tied it right back up. Tech took set point for the third time on a block from Frerking and Clifton and this time Frerking followed up with a kill to win the set at 28-26 and tie the match.
After falling behind 4-1 early, the Jackets went on an 8-0 run sparked by a kill from Clifton to lead 9-4. The Tigers came back to tie the set at 10-10, overtaking the Jackets at 11-10 to force Tech to take a timeout. Clemson snuck back ahead but a kill from Clifton tied the set at 17-17. The Tigers took a three-point edge at 20-17 and the Jackets used their second timeout. Clemson kept at it, holding off the Jackets to take the set at 25-17.
Tech bounced back in the fourth, taking an early lead at 7-2 and Clemson used its first timeout. Tech kept rolling, moving its lead to 14-6 on a solo block from sophomore Dominique Washington. A service ace on the powerful jump serve of freshman Kayla Kaiser put Tech up by nine at 17-8 and the Tigers called their second timeout. At that point the set belonged to Tech, taking set point at 24-11 on a kill from Brambilla before taking the set at 25-12 to force a fifth.
Tech took the momentum into the fifth set, leading 5-2 on a kill from Dowd when Clemson called its first timeout. Comby tallied a kill and Tech led 8-4 at the switch. The Jackets pushed its lead to 11-5 and Clemson called its second timeout of the set. Dowd’s 15th kill of the match gave Tech set point at 14-7 and she tallied one more to seal the set at 15-8 and complete the comeback win for the Jackets.
Up next:
The Jackets finish the homestand on Friday, Oct. 5 when they host Virginia Tech. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Tech tidbits:
- Brambilla recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 20 kills and 12 digs.
- Dowd also had a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs. It was her fifth of the season.
- Brambilla’s 20 kills were a career high for the freshman.
- Dowd tied her career high in digs.
- Freshman Matti McKissock recorded a career-high assists with 42.
- Washington had a career-high three block assists.
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