Nov. 27, 2013
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Georgia Tech volleyball team (12-19, 6-13 ACC) fell, 3-1 (16-25, 25-16, 18-25, 18-25), to the Miami Hurricanes (18-11, 11-8) Wednesday night at the Knight Sports Complex.
Sophomore middle blocker Chanell Clark-Bibbs led all players with 13 kills and fellow middle blocker Quinn Evans added 11. Clark-Bibbs (.265), Evans (.250) and junior Courtney Felinski (.273) hit above .250 in the match. London Ackermann and Annika Van Gunst anchored the back row with 20 and 12 digs, respectively.
The Hurricanes held a slight edge in kills 48-46, but Tech’s seven service errors and eight serve-receive errors were the difference.
The Hurricanes established their momentum early. Up 7-5, Miami put together an 11-1 run for a 16-6 advantage. The Jackets laced together a late four-point rally, closing the gap to 20-12, but the Hurricanes finished off the set 25-16. Miami hit .407 in the game compared to Tech’s .250 hitting clip. Clark-Bibbs tallied five kills to lead the Jackets on nine swings with just one error (.444).
With the second game knotted 3-3, Georgia Tech used a 9-2 to take a 12-5 lead. The Yellow Jackets stayed in rhythm, never relinquishing the lead, and defeated the Hurricanes, 25-16. The Jackets’ defense limited Miami to a .023 hitting percentage. Felinski and Jennifer Percy led Tech with five kills each in the set.
The Jackets went up 5-2 in game three and Evans notched three of those five points. Miami rallied back within one point, 8-7, on a short four-point run and kept working. Miami took its first lead of the set, 12-11 on a kill by Misty Ma’a.
The Hurricanes found their momentum late in the set. Down 17-16, Miami put together an eight-point streak sparked by a kill from Savanah Leaf for set-point 24-17. Miami won the set on a Tech attacking error, 25-18.
The Hurricanes hurried to take a 5-0 lead in game four. Georgia Tech chipped away at Miami’s lead to pull within one, 13-12. The Hurricanes used an 8-3 run to go up 21-15 and rode that momentum to a 25-18 fourth-set victory.
Georgia Tech wraps up its 2013 season Friday at No. 16 Florida State. The Jackets and Seminoles square off at 4 p.m.
For an inside look at the program, follow Georgia Tech volleyball on Twitter, @GTVolleyball, Instagram, GTVolleyball, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, Georgia Tech Volleyball.
