Oct. 4, 2007
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech volleyball begins a four-match road swing in Florida this weekend when it squares off against Florida State (5-8, 2-3 ACC) in Tallahassee Friday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Coral Gables to meet Miami (8-6, 2-3 ACC) Sunday at 12 noon. The Yellow Jackets (9-5, 3-1 ACC) are coming off a 1-1 weekend in which Tech dropped its first ACC match of the season in a comeback win by Virginia, 3-2, before stopping Virginia Tech, 3-1, Saturday night.
Match Coverage: Friday’s match to be aired on Sun Sports; Saturday’s match available on ACC Select (gatech.playonsports.tv). Live stats for both matches available at RamblinWreck.com.
Tech went 6-4 in its non-conference slate and opened the ACC schedule with a pair of 3-1 road wins against North Carolina and NC State two weeks ago. The Jackets have been receiving contributions from the entire lineup, with middle hitter Nikki Kaminskas leading Tech’s blocking efforts (1.20 pg), libero Michelle Kandell directing the Jackets’ backrow defense (4.78 dpg), and Talisa Kellogg (3.90 kpg), Chrissy DeMichelis (3.24 kpg) and Ulrike Stegemann (.296; 3.22 kpg) guiding the offense.
Georgia Tech has already faced four teams that competed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, as well as another that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2005, and has one remaining NCAA participant on its schedule in No. 14 Duke, which it will play twice over the last six weeks of the season.
Team Updates
Georgia Tech – The Yellow Jackets suffered a heartbreaking loss against Virginia last weekend as the Cavaliers came back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Georgia Tech, 3-2, in Atlanta. Tech responded with a 3-1 win against Virginia Tech, but currently stands third in the league behind the two unbeated-in-conference teams, Duke and Clemson.
Florida State – Florida State enters the match with a 5-8 record, including a 2-3 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference matches. The Seminoles knocked off Wake Forest, 3-2, in Tallahassee in their last match to snap a three-match losing streak, which included 3-0 losses to Virginia Tech and Duke. Florida State finished fourth in the conference a year ago, one spot ahead of Georgia Tech, and currently stands tied for sixth with five other teams. The Seminoles were picked to finish fifth in the league this season in a vote by ACC coaches. Top players for the ‘Noles include outside hitters Mira Djuric (3.66 Kpg) and Makini Thompson (2.83 Kpg), setters Lauren Rosenthal (9.33 Apg) and Nikki Baker (9.12 Apg) middle blocker Brianna Barry (0.91 Bpg) and libero Summer Weissing (3.74 Dpg).
Miami – The Hurricanes also enter the weekend tied for sixth in the league with a 2-3 conference record and currently hold an overall record of 8-6 in 2007. Miami will square off against the Clemson Tigers on Friday night before hosting Georgia Tech Sunday afternoon. The ‘Canes dropped matches to Wake Forest and Miami last weekend after sweeping Virginia Tech and Virginia on the road the week before. Miami was picked to finish 10th in the league in 2007 after concluding 2006 in ninth place in the conference standings. Running the Miami offense is freshman setter Katie Gallagher (10.57), and her primary target is outside hitter Genny Mayhew (3.60 Kpg). Pacing the Hurricanes’ defensive efforts are middle blocker Ciara Michel (1.33 Bpg) and libero Cassie Loessberg (5.13 Dpg)
Tech vs. the Opponents (GT leads FSU, 25-8; GT leads UM, 3-2)
Georgia Tech is 25-8 all-time against Florida State, including holding a 9-2 record versus the Seminoles since Bond Shymansky was promoted to head coach in 2002. Florida State defeated Georgia Tech, 3-2, in Atlanta a year ago, but the Jackets then stopped the Seminoles, 3-1, in Florida to even the season series. Georgia Tech is 9-5 all-time in matches played in Tallahassee, and has won four-straight matches on the Seminoles’ home court. Tech’s last loss at Florida State came in a 3-2 Seminoles win in 2001.
The Yellow Jackets and Hurricanes also split the season series in 2006, with Miami taking the first match, 3-1, in Atlanta, before Tech stopped the Hurricanes, 3-2, in Coral Gables later in the season. Tech is 3-2 all-time against the Hurricanes, with all five matches coming under Shymansky. Ironically, each team fairs better away from home, as Tech is 2-0 against the Hurricanes in Coral Gables and just 1-2 vs. Miami at home.
Special Dates
With the volleyball season now stretching from August through December, it’s hard to believe that only two members of the Georgia Tech volleyball team and coaching staff will celebrate birthdays during the season. Ironically, those two (Laura DeMichelis and Lindsey Gray) also celebrate their special days in the same month – October. DeMichelis was born Oct. 15, 1986, while Gray was born Oct. 20, 1985.
Broadcast Information
Georgia Tech will have three matches aired on SportSouth this season on a tape-delay basis. Listed below are those three matches, as well as air dates (and times, if available).
Opponent, Original Match Date, Air Date, TimeGeorgia Tech vs. Virginia, Sept. 28, Oct. 7, 3 p.m.Georgia Tech vs. Maryland, Oct. 19, Oct. 28, TBAGeorgia Tech vs. Duke, Nov. 8, Nov. 18, TBA
Up Next
Tech travels to North Carolina to face Duke (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Wake Forest (Saturday, 6 p.m.) next weekend. Both matches available on ACC Select. Live stats for Friday on GoDuke.com; Live stats for Saturday on RamblinWreck.com.
