THE FLATS – Moving to a perfect 10-0 record in O’Keefe Gymnasium this season, Georgia Tech volleyball (11-2) downed Arkansas (6-4) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Georgia Tech Classic. After beating in-state rival Georgia on Friday night, the Jackets finished the tournament 2-0 against their SEC opponents.
Georgia Tech 3, Arkansas 1
The first set was close the whole way. The Yellow Jackets trailed by one at 15-14 at the media timeout. A kill from junior Kodie Comby brought the score to 16-16 and sparked a 4-0 run for the Jackets. Senior Lauren Frerking and sophomore Kendall Wilson combined for three-straight blocks to put Tech ahead 19-16. The Razorbacks tied the set at 20-20 but a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla put Tech back on top. The Jackets took set point at 24-21 on an attack error but Arkansas added two more before freshman Mikaila Dowd put away the set with a kill at 25-23 to give the Jackets the 1-0 lead.
The second set was another close battle, featuring 10 ties. The Jackets trailed by four at 11-15 but a 4-0 run tied the set back up at 15-15. The Razorbacks took another lead at 19-16 and Tech called its first timeout of the set. Brambilla tallied a kill coming out of the timeout to keep the Jackets within striking distance. Tech tied the set again at 22-22 on an attack error by Arkansas and the Razorbacks took a timeout. Arkansas took two in a row to reach set point at 24-22. Dowd added a kill for the Jackets but Arkansas took the set at 25-23 to even the score.
It was yet another well-matched contest in the third. Arkansas pulled ahead but the Jackets never trailed by more than three. Tech called a timeout trailing 12-9. Frerking tallied a kill and a service ace coming out of the timeout to bring the score to 12-11. A block off the hands off Comby and Brambilla tied the set at 15-15. Tech jumped ahead at 19-18 on a kill from Brambilla and Arkansas took a timeout. The Razorbacks tied the set at 19-19 and the teams traded points to a tie at 23-23. A kill from Comby gave Tech set point at 24-23 and Brambilla followed up with a kill to take the set for the Jackets at 25-23 and give Tech back the lead.
The fourth set belonged to the Jackets from the start. Jumping to a 9-4 lead on a service ace from freshman Matti McKissock, the Jackets forced Arkansas to use their first timeout early. Tech kept at it, pushing its lead to 14-5 on a kill from Brambilla and the Razorbacks burned their second timeout of the set. A 5-0 run gave Tech tis largest lead of the set at 20-7 on a kill from Comby. Arkansas battled back but Tech remained in control, pocketing the set at 25-17 on a kill from Frerking to win the match 3-1.
Up next:
The Jackets kick off Atlantic Coast Conference action next weekend, traveling to Syracuse and Boston College. The Jackets take on the Orange on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. before heading to Chestnut Hill to battle it out with the Eagles on Sunday,l Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Tech tidbits:
- Tech moved to 10-0 at home this season.
- Three Jackets finished the match with double-digit kills: Kodie Comby (12), Mariana Brambilla (16) and Mikaila Dowd (17).
- Dowd led the Jackets in scoring for the second match.
- Comby had a match-high hitting percentage of .526.
- Brambilla tallied her fifth-straight double-double and her 10th of the season with 16 kills and 14 digs.
- Dowd recorded her third double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs.
- Redshirt junior Coral Kazaroff recorded a career-high 22 digs.
- McKissock recorded a career-high four service aces.
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