Nov. 9, 2017
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a tight five setter, Georgia Tech volleyball (12-14, 7-8 ACC) fell to North Carolina (13-10, 10-5 ACC), 3-2 on Thursday night.
Head coach Michelle Collier says:
“I’m proud of the fight our team had out there tonight. Chapel Hill is a tough place to play and they stayed tough to the last point. Now it’s time to rebound, and use tomorrow to get ready for NC State on Saturday.”
How it happened:
North Carolina came out swinging in the first, jumping to a 12-7 lead. Collier called timeout to try to jumpstart the Jackets and it worked and seniors Gabriela Stavnetchei and Ashley Askin tallied three in a row for Tech to bring the score to 12-10. The Tar Heels responded and Tech took its second timeout, trailing 16-11. The Jackets couldn’t get anything going and North Carolina took the set at 25-15.
The Jackets took the lead to start the second with freshman Grace Rigsbee getting in on the action. The Tar Heels tied it up at 5-5 and took over the lead with a 6-0 run. Tech called a timeout, trailing 9-5 in an attempt to slow North Carolina’s momentum. The Jackets still couldn’t find a rhythm and the Tar Heels would lead by as much as seven at 14-7 but a 5-0 run for the Jackets brought Tech back into the match at 14-12. The Tar Heels called timeout but Tech kept rolling and back-to-back kills from Stavnetchei tied up the set at 14-14. Trading points to a tie at 19-19, Askin put the Jackets ahead with a kill, this time for good. The Jackets held onto the lead and tied up the match with a 25-21 win of the second set.
The teams stayed close to start the third, tying to 10-10. A kill from sophomore Kodie Comby sparked a 4-0 run for the Jackets to take the lead at 14-10. The set belonged to the Yellow Jackets from there and Tech took the 2-1 advantage with the third at 25-17.
It was tight to start the fourth, trading points to a tie at 14-14 before Tech took the lead off a kill from Comby. Tech kept ahead but the Tar Heels kept it close, tying the set again at 19-19. North Carolina took two in a row to edge ahead at 21-19, causing Tech to use its second timeout. The Jackets battled but North Carolina clung onto its lead and tied the match at 2-2 with a 25-21 win over the fourth.
Coming down to a decisive fifth set, the Tar Heels came out hot. North Carolina took the first lead of the set and held onto it, leading 8-5 at the switch. The Jacket stayed close but the Tar Heels were just out of reach, closing out the set at 15-9 for the 3-2 victory.
Up next:
Tech plays its last regular season match on the road this season at North Carolina State on Saturday. The Jackets take on the Wolfpack on ACC Network Extra at 5 p.m.
Quick hits:
– Gabriela Stavnetchei recorded her 11th double-double of the season (26 kills, 12 digs).
– Gabby Benda posted a double-double with 49 assists and 16 digs.
– Benda’s 16 digs were a career high for the senior.
– Ashley Askin recorded her third double-double of the season (11 kills, 16 digs).
– Stavnetchei lead all scorers with 26 kills.
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