THE FLATS – Georgia Tech volleyball (18-15) came up short on Friday night, its 2018 campaign coming to a close with a 3-1 loss to College of Charleston (23-11) in the second round of the NIVC in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
Georgia Tech 1, Col. of Charleston 3
The teams came out battling. Charleston took the first lead of the match at 14-11. Freshman Maddie Tippett turned a dig into a kill to spark a 3-0 run and a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla tied it at 14-14. The Cougars made a 4-0 run to lead 18-14 and Tech called timeout. Senior Lauren Frerking tallied back-to-back kills coming out of the timeout and an attack error put the Jackets within one at 18-17, inciting Charleston to call timeout. The Cougars moved their lead to three but freshman Mikaila Dowd recorded back-to-back kill to bring Tech within one and Charleston called its second timeout with the score at 21-20. The Cougars pushed back ahead, taking the set 25-22.
The Jackets bounced back in the second set. Using a 4-0 run sparked by a kill from Brambilla, the Jackets took a five-point lead at 12-7 on an ace from freshman Matti McKissock and Charleston called timeout. Tech kept rolling, leading 16-8 on a kill from Dowd and the Cougars used their second timeout. The Jackets pushed their lead to nine at 19-10 on a block from junior Kodie Comby and Dowd. Tech easily took the set at 25-17 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set got off to a close start. College of Charleston took the early lead at 13-9 and Tech called its first timeout of the set. Tech brought the score back within one at 13-12 on a kill from Dowd but the Cougars stayed ahead, making it at four-point set at 18-14. The Jackets didn’t let up, once again fighting to come within one at 20-19 on an attack error and Charleston called timeout. Dowd tied the set at 21-21 with a kill and Brambilla followed it up with an ace to give Tech its first lead of the set at 22-21 and College of Charleston called timeout. The Cougars retook the lead, reaching set point at 24-22. A kill from Dowd and a block from sophomore Kendall Wilson and Comby kept Tech alive at knot the score at 24-24 but Charleston took two in a row to seal the set at 26-24 for the 2-1 edge.
The fourth set was another close bout. Tech took a short lead at 5-3 on a kill from Dowd but the Cougars fought back to overtake the Jackets and Tech called timeout trailing 11-8. The Jackets came back within one at 11-10 on a block from Wilson and Frerking but Charleston pushed its lead out to six at 18-12 and Tech used up its second timeout. The Yellow Jackets inched their way back into the set, coming within two at 20-18 on an attack error. That’s all the Jackets would get, Charleston closed out the set with a 5-0 run to take it at 25-18 for the 3-1 victory.
Tech tidbits:
- The Jackets finish the 2018 season with an 18-15 record and 6-12 mark in conference play.
- Tech protected their home court this season, boasting a 15-6 record in O’Keefe.
- Matti McKissock turned in her 10th double-double with 11 digs and 40 assists.
- Mikaila Dowd recorded her 12th double-double with 22 kills and 11 digs.
- It marks Dowd’s sixth match this season with 20 or more kills.
- Mariana Brambilla recorded her second-straight match with 20 or more kills after scoring a career-high 22 against South Florida on Friday night.
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