DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech volleyball (13-8, 2-6 ACC) avenged the losses from the 2017 season with a 3-1 victory over Duke (9-8, 3-5) in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Georgia Tech 3, Duke 1
The Jackets fell behind early in the first set but kept it close, never trailing by more than five. The Jackets used a 4-0 run, brought on by three-straight kill from freshman Mikaila Dowd, to come within one at 13-12. Tech tied the set at 14-14 on an attack error but the Blue Devils snuck back ahead and the Jackets called timeout trailing 18-15. Duke moved the score to 20-15 before a kill from sophomore Cori Clifton got the Jackets going again. Freshman Mariana Brambilla followed up a kill with a service ace to bring Tech within two at 21-19 and the Blue Devils called timeout. Another kill from Dowd brought Tech within one and a huge kill from junior Kodie Comby tied the set at 22-22, inciting Duke to call timeout. Dowd slammed another kill off the block to give Tech its first lead of the match and Comby gave the Jackets set point at 24-22. Comby give Tech the set with another kill at 25-22 for the 1-0 lead. Tech finished the set on a 5-0 run. Dowd tallied eight kills in the first set.
The Blue Devils bounced back in the second, cruising to a 9-4 lead and Tech called its first timeout of the set. Duke pushed its lead to eight but the Jackets battled back within five at 16-11. Duke moved the score to 19-12 and the Jackets used their second timeout. Freshman Maddie Tippett sandwiched a service ace between two kills from Brambilla to string together three in a row for the Jackets and bring Tech within three at 20-17. A kill from Brambilla sparked a 5-0 run for Tech, overtaking the Blue Devils at 22-21 and Duke called a timeout. A block from sophomore Dominique Washington and Comby gave Tech set point at 25-24 and Comby threw up a solo block to take the set at 26-24 for the 2-0 advantage.
The teams kept the third set close. The score was tied at 10-10 before the Blue Devils took the edge and Tech called a timeout trailing 14-11. Tech fought its way back to tie the set at 17-17 on a solo block from Dowd and overtake the Blue Devils with another block off the hands of senior Lauren Frerking and Washington. Duke called a timeout but Dowd tallied her 16th kill coming out of the timeout to keep Tech ahead. Duke used a 3-0 run to take back the lead and Tech called its second timeout with the score at 20-19. Tech tied the set at 21-21 on Dowd’s second solo block but Duke snuck back ahead. The Blue Devils took set point at 24-22 and forced a fourth set at 25-23.
The fourth set was another close one, trading points to a tie at 10-10 before Duke pulled ahead by two. The Jackets went on a 5-0 run to take over the lead a 15-12, four points with freshman Kayla Kaiser at the service line. The Blue Devils battled back within one but Tech pushed back out to lead 18-14 on a service ace from sophomore Sam Knapp and Duke called timeout. The Blue Devils kept battling but Tech stayed ahead, leading 23-18 and the Blue Devils used their final timeout of the set. Brambilla gave the Jackets set point at 24-19 and Tech took the fourth set at 25-20 on Dowd’s 20th kill to complete the win.
Up next:
The Jackets are on the road again next weekend, heading to Florida State and Miami. Tech takes on the Seminoles on Friday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. before facing off against the Hurricanes on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Tech tidbits:
- Mikaila Dowd had a career-high two solo blocks.
- Dowd tallied her sixth double-double with 20 kills and 12 digs.
- Mariana Brambilla recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 17 kills and 10 digs.
- Matti McKissock finished with her sixth double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs.
- McKissock’s 45 assists were a career high for the freshman.
- Dominique Washington had a career-high four blocks.
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