CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – With another 20-kill effort from freshman Mikaila Dowd, Georgia Tech volleyball (17-12, 6-10 ACC) topped Virginia (8-19, 4-13 ACC) 3-1 on the road on Friday night. The Jackets claimed both meetings with the Cavaliers this season and tallied their second road victory.
Georgia Tech 3, Virginia 1
Virginia took an early led to kick off the match but the Jackets battled back with a 5-0 run to take the lead at 13-11 off an ace from freshman Kayla Kaiser, forcing Virginia to call the first timeout of the match. The Jackets kept rolling, moving their lead to 19-13 on a kill from junior Kodie Comby and the Cavaliers called a second timeout. Tech kept the Cavaliers at bay and took the set at 25-17 on back-to-back service aces from freshman Matti McKissock for the 1-0 lead.
The Cavaliers came back out strong in the second set, jumping to an 8-3 lead and Tech called timeout. The Jackets kept battling, bringing the score within two at 14-12 on an ace from redshirt junior Coral Kazaroff and the Cavaliers called timeout. Virginia pushed back ahead to lead by four at 21-17 and Tech used its second timeout. The Yellow Jackets were only able to get in two more points and the Cavaliers pocketed the set at 25-19 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set was a close one. The teams saw three ties to a score of 9-9 before the Jackets jumped ahead by three at 12-9 on a kill from senior Lauren Frerking and Virginia called timeout. The Cavaliers came back within two at 17-15 but the Jackets pushed back ahead to 20-15 with a 3-0 run sparked by a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla and Virginia called its second timeout. The Cavaliers brought the score within two again and Tech called timeout with the lead at 22-20. A kill from Frerking got the Jackets back on track and Tech closed out the set at 25-20 on a kill from Dowd.
Virginia took another early lead but the Jackets tallied four in a row to tie the set at 6-6 on a kill from Comby and the Cavaliers called their first timeout early. Virginia snuck back ahead and the Jackets called timeout trailing 14-10. Dowd tallied back-to-back kills to bring Tech back within two but Virginia moved its lead to 18-13 and Tech called its second timeout. Capitalizing on Virginia’s errors, Tech brought it back within two but the Cavaliers stayed ahead, reaching set point at 24-21. Dowd stepped up once again, using two kills and a service ace to knot the score at 24-24. Virginia went up again but Tech took three-straight points to take the win at 27-25 for the 3-1 victory.
Up next:
The Jackets are on the road for their regular-season finale next week, traveling to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. match up with the Panthers on Wednesday, Nov. 21 before playing the final regular season match at Louisville on Friday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Tech tidbits:
- Mikaila Dowd recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 20 kills and 10 digs.
- It is the second 20 kill effort by the freshman against the Cavaliers this season.
- Tech took both meetings this season against Virginia, winning 3-1 in Atlanta on Nov. 4.
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