THE FLATS – No. 24 Georgia Tech volleyball outlasted South Carolina for a 3-2 win in the Jackets’ final preseason contest on Saturday.
Tech displayed its depth on the way to victory as 15 different players saw the floor throughout the match. Junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann led the Jackets through the match with match-highs in kills (22) and digs (12) for a double double as well as a pair of aces and block assists. Senior setter Matti McKissock led the match in the assist column with 29 on the night.
Following a short lull to open the match, the Yellow Jackets got on track with a five-point run capped by a Bergmann kill to take a 6-4 lead in the first set. Tech used a three-point run, including an ace by McKissock, to increase the lead to 13-10. As the two sides battled back and forth, the Jackets never trailed again in the set on the way to a 25-22 first set win.
The Gamecocks began to claw back in the second set, using a six-point run up to a 13-9 lead to gain momentum. Despite a previous four-point Tech run and another two four-point Tech runs to follow, South Carolina managed to avoid surrendering the lead. Georgia Tech would draw within a point trailing just 23-22, but the Gamecocks too the final two points to claim the second set.
The Jackets took the first three points of the third set, aided by a kill and another ace from McKissock, but South Carolina would go on a stretch taking six of seven points up to a 12-9 lead. From there, Tech drew as close as within two at the end at a tally of 24-22, but the Gamecocks then took the final point for a set three win.
The Jackets came out of the gates firing in the fourth set with seven straight points up to a 7-1 lead thanks to kills by outside hitter Mikaila Dowd and middle blocker Kayla Kaiser as well as a kill and an ace by Bergmann. South Carolina would get within two, but a four-point run with another kill by Bergmann and an ace by libero Paola Pimentel put Tech well ahead, 21-15. The Jackets shortly after took four out of five points as a Bergmann ace gave Tech the 25-17 set win.
Being an exhibition match, the two squads opted to play the fifth set to 25 points. Bergmann, Dowd and Laura Fischer got the Yellow Jackets going with a four-point run to lead 4-2. The unfamiliar foes traded blows until Georgia Tech earned 10 of the next 13 points up to an 18-13 lead. The Gamecocks slowly crept back toward the end trailing just 24-22, but Bergmann hammered home her 22nd kill of the night to give the Jackets the 25-22 set win and 3-2 match win.
Tech will next open the regular season on the road at the UCF Challenge by taking on No. 12 Penn State and UCF (Aug. 27) in Orlando, Fla. The Jackets will make their official return to O’Keefe Gymnasium hosting the Georgia Tech Classic, beginning with Mississippi State (Sept. 9).
Season Tickets
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Season tickets are now available. Secure your new season tickets online HERE or renew your season tickets through your ticket account found at www.ramblinwreck.com/myaccount or by calling the Georgia Tech Ticket Office at 888.TECH.TIX. To renew online, please log into your account and click on Season Ticket Renewals located in the right-hand column. If you need assistance, the Georgia Tech Ticket Office is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The renewal deadline is Aug. 27. Seating inside O’Keefe Gymnasium is general admission.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
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