Sept. 15, 2017
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia Tech volleyball (5-6) came up short against the Georgia Bulldogs (10-3) in the Friday night rivalry matchup, falling to a score of 3-1 at the Ramsey Center in Athens.
Head coach Michelle Collier says:
“It’s hard to walk away from a match like this not being able to perform your best. We need to be tougher on the road. We need to be more consistent as a team. When we are hot we are great but when we face some adversities we need to respond better. That is what we will take from this match, we need to get better and be more confident when facing adversity.
“I am proud of how we fought through a very challenging nonconference schedule, we grew a lot as individuals and as a team and I have no doubt we will be a better team Friday when we start our conference season.”
How it happened:
Tech came out a little slow in the first, allowing the Bulldogs an early lead but a kill from senior Sydney Wilson tied the match at 7-7. Senior Gabriela Stavnetchei gave the Jackets their first lead of the match with a back row attack at 8-7. Tech never gave up the lead again although the two teams would tie at 19-19. A critical challenge went the way of the Jackets to keep the Bulldogs at bay. Stavnetchei put down the final kill of the match and Tech pocketed the first set at 25-23. It was the second set the Bulldogs have lost at the Ramsey Center this season.
The Bulldogs stole the momentum in the second, using a 5-0 run to come out to a 9-4 lead. Georgia continued to pull ahead leading by six at 19-13 as Tech called a timeout. The Jackets made good use of their timeout, pulling within two at 23-21. The Bulldogs were posed to win the set at 24-21 but a kill from Stavnetchei brought Tech within one before Georgia sent one out of bounds to tie the match at 24-24. Despite the late rally, the next two points went to Georgia as it sealed the set at 26-24 to tie the match at 1-1.
Georgia carried its momentum into the third set, taking a 4-0 lead early in the set. The Bulldogs would never give up that lead although the Jackets would come close, pulling within one at 11-10 but Georgia maintained its lead and took the set at 25-18 for the 2-1 lead.
The fourth set seemed to be going the Jackets’ way as Tech took a 4-1 lead to kick off the set. The Bulldogs fought back to tie the match at 7-7, using a 7-0 run to overtake the lead at 12-7. The Jackets continued to battle but the set remained just out of reach and the Bulldogs won the match at 3-1 with a 25-20 win of the fourth.
Up next:
Tech kicks off Atlantic Coast Conference play on the road next weekend, playing at Clemson on Sept. 22 before heading to Durham, N.C. to take on the Duke Blue Devils.
Quick Hits:
– Stavnetchei posted a career high 23 kills.
– Stavnetchei recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 23 kills and 14 digs.
– Both Nicole Alford (13) and Gabby Benda (29) posted double-digit assists.
– Wilson tallied a season-best kill mark of 13.
– Freshman Sam Knapp posted a career best 19 digs.
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