RALEIGH, N.C. – Extending its Atlantic Coast Conference winning streak to eight, Georgia Tech volleyball (16-7, 9-3 ACC) took its second-straight five set victory on the road against NC State (9-15, 4-8 ACC) on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Tech finishes the weekend tied for second in the ACC.
Photos: Jackets Win Eighth-Straight Topping NC State in Five
Anthony McClellan
Hear from @collmich following today’s five-set thriller at NC State. pic.twitter.com/9nbzQ4d7oZ
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 3, 2019
How it happened:
The Wolfpack took an early lead but the Jackets used a 5-0 run to take over at 8-6 on a kill from sophomore Kayla Kaiser. The Jackets took another 3-0 run and following a monster kill from Kaiser, NC State called for a timeout with the Jackets leading 11-7. The Wolfpack brought the score back within one but the Jackets stayed ahead, and as sophomore Matti McKissock snuck a kill over the net NC State called its second timeout with the score at 18-15. Tech held onto its lead, taking the set at 25-19 on a block from freshman Julia Bergmann and senior Kodie Comby.
The Jackets had another slow start in the second, falling behind 6-0. The Jackets chipped away at the deficit, using a 4-0 run to come within one at 12-11 on a block from sophomores Mikaila Dowd and Kaiser. The Wolfpack snuck back out to lead 15-11 to trigger the media timeout. The Jackets won a long rally on a kill from Kaiser coming out of the timeout but NC State pushed the lead out to five at 17-12 and the Jackets called for a timeout. Tech fought to bring the score back within three at 21-18 on a kill from Bergmann and NC State signaled for a timeout. The Jackets weren’t able to close the gap and the Wolfpack took the second set at 25-19.
The third was a close start until a 6-0 run carried the Wolfpack to a 11-6 lead and the Jackets called a timeout. Tech’s offense was sporadic and Tech used its second timeout of the set trailing 19-11. The set was too far out of hand and the Wolfpack took the 2-1 lead at 25-16.
The Jackets left the momentum with NC State heading into the fourth, falling behind 6-2 before calling their first timeout. Tech couldn’t make up the deficit and called its second timeout trailing 17-10. Tech never gave up and trailing 23-15 the Jackets kicked off a 10-0 run with Kaiser at the service line to take back the set and win the fourth at 25-23 to force a decisive fifth set.
The fifth set was a battle. The teams went back-and-forth, trading points but the Wolfpack snuck ahead by three to force the switch at 8-5 and the Jackets called timeout. Tech came back within one at 9-8 on an attack error and NC State used a timeout of its own. Tech kept at it, turning it into a 6-0 run to lead 12-9 on a kill from sophomore Mariana Brambilla. The Jackets only allowed two more points before Brambilla secured the set with a kill at 15-11 for the second-straight five set victory.
Up next:
The Jackets are back on the road next weekend, heading to No. 2 Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. first serve on Friday, Nov. 8 on ACCNX.
Tech Tidbits:
- Tech’s eight-match ACC winning streak is its longest since it won 10 in a row in 2016.
- With the win, the Jackets move to a tie for second in the ACC with Florida State.
- Kaiser recorded a career high five block assists and matched her career high in blocks with five.
- Brambilla recorded her sixth double-double with 21 kills and 12 digs.
- Brambilla’s 21 kills were a season high for the sophomore.
- Bergmann recorded her 11th double-double with 10 kills and 21 digs.
- Bergmann’s 21 digs were a career high.
- Sophomore Maddie Tippett tallied a season high 24 digs.
ACC Network has launched!
The ACC Network is a linear and digital platform dedicated to 24/7 coverage of ACC sports that launched on Aug. 22, 2019. It will exclusively televise approximately 450 live events each year, including 40 football games as well as 150 men’s and women’s basketball contests.
Don’t get shut out! For more information and to learn if your cable/satellite/digital provider is carrying the ACC Network, visit GetACCN.com. Georgia Tech fans whose cable/satellite/digital providers aren’t carrying the ACC Network are urged to contact their providers and ask for the ACC Network to be a part of their subscription.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTVolleyball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Volleyball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
