Nov. 9, 2013
Box Score | Box Score | InfoGraphic
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Wolfpack (19-7, 10-4) outlasted the Georgia Tech volleyball team (9-16, 3-10 ACC), in five sets, 3-2 (25-27, 27-25, 25-11, 19-25, 12-15), Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Jackets recorded 30 block assists, which is the third-most in a single game in Tech history. Georgia Tech’s 19 total blocks rank as the second-most in a single match in program history. Sophomore Chanell Clark-Bibbs led Tech’s blocking efforts with nine (two solo, seven assists), while freshman setter Rebecca Martin and senior Quinn Evans pitched in eight blocks apiece.
Clark-Bibbs led all players with 13 kills, while senior Jennifer Percy chipped in 12. Freshmen London Ackermann and Annika Van Gunst held down the back row with 18 and 15 digs, respectively.
Georgia Tech’s 11 service aces, led by Clark-Bibbs’ career-high five aces, in the match ties for the ninth-most in a single match. The Jackets recorded 12 service aces a year ago in a similar setting – a 3-2 loss at NC State.
“This was a tough five-game loss for us,” head coach Tonya Johnson said. “But I thought there were some positives that we can take away from this match. We fought until the very end, and we blocked and served very well throughout the match.
“Chanell Clark-Bibbs had probably one of her best performances of the season – offensively, defensively from a blocking standpoint and she served aggressively. Give credit to NC State as it has always been a tough place to play and they played very efficient volleyball when they needed to especially in sets four and five.”
The teams were neck-and-neck to kick off the opening game. Tech used three blocks and a service ace to go up 10-7 on the Pack. NC State dug in and worked its way back in the game, slowly chipping away at Tech’s lead. Georgia Tech put together a series of rallies to go up 23-15, but the Pack went on a four-point run to close the gap, 23-19.
A kill by Percy gave Tech set point, but again the Pack rallied for five-straight points, tying the set 24-24, and used that momentum to win the set, 27-25.
Similar to set one, the second game came down to the wire. A back and forth battle early in the set, Georgia Tech used a three-point rally behind Courtney Felinski and Quinn Evans to break a 6-6 tied and go up 9-6.
Two NC State attacking errors combined with a kill from Annika Van Gunst extend the Jackets lead 13-9. NC State proved resilient, battling back and tying the game 24-24. The Jackets had set point three times, before putting the game away on the third try on a solo block courtesy of Annika Van Gunst.
Tech came out of the break and jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in game three. Georgia Tech stayed in rhythm and opened its advantage up by more than 10 points 18-7 capped off with a five-point streak. A Wolfpack attacking error gave Tech set-point and a kill by Felinski down the line handed Georgia Tech the win, 25-11.
The Wolfpack took the lead from the first point and held on in game four. NC State limited Tech to a .027 hitting percentage, while swinging at a .103 clip. The Pack won 25-19, forcing a fifth frame.
NC State strung together a pair of three-point rallies to take an 8-4 at the switch in the fifth game. Tech fought back and pulled within two points 14-12 thanks in part to a pair of back-to-back service aces by Clark-Bibbs. The Wolfpack clinched the game, 15-12, and match, 3-2, on a Tech service error.
The Jackets have a quick turn around with a match Sunday at No. 19 North Carolina. First serve is slated for 2 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.
