Oct. 7, 2003
Tech Opens 2003 Campaign with 16 Wins
The Jackets have begun the 2003 season with 16 straight wins, equaling the best start to a year since 1996. In 1996, the team began the year with 16 straight wins before falling to Auburn. This also equals the longest winning streak in school history.
Next up for the Jackets….Wake Forest and Duke
After three matches at home, Tech hits the road to take on Wake Forest and Duke in the state of North Carolina.
Against Wake Forest
The Jackets hold a 14-6 lead over Wake Forest in the series and Tech has defeated the Demon Deacons in the last seven meetings, including a win in the quarterfinals of the 2002 ACC Tournament.The last time Wake Forest defeated the Jackets was in 1999 during the ACC Tournament.
Against Duke
The Blue Devils and the Jackets have met 41 times with Duke holding the edge, 28-13. Last season, the two teams met three times, with the Jackets winning two of them, including a match in the semifinals of the 2002 ACC Tournament.
Now Down to Three
Heading into action this weekend, three teams remain undefeated this season and at 16-0 Georgia Tech is one of them. The other three are #1 Southern California (14-0), and #9 California (14-0).
School Record for Consecutive Games Won
Early into the season, this year’s team has already set a school record. By winning the first two games against Nebraska on 9/14, the Yellow Jackets established a new record for consecutive games won. Tech won 23 straight games before dropping the third game to the Cornhuskers. During the 1992 season, the team had won 21 straight from Sept. 12-Sept. 20, before dropping a game to Auburn on Sept. 23.
Jackets Stay at No. 5
In the 2003 USA Today/AVCA poll for Oct. 6, the Yellow Jackets remained at the No. 5 spot, representing the highest ranking in school history and the highest ranking achieved by any school in the ACC. This is the fourth week that Tech has been ranked fifth.
Dating back to last season, this marks the 20th consecutive week that Tech has been ranked in the Top 25, which is the second longest streak ever by an ACC school. Georgia Tech holds the record, having been ranked 22 consecutive weeks during the span from 9/5/95-10/1/96.
In the issue dated Oct. 5th Volleyball Magazine Top 20 poll, the Jackets are ranked 6th.
Tech Equals 1996 Team for Best Start in School History
With a win over Virginia, the volleyball team stands at 16-0, which ties the 1996 team as the best start in school history and also equals the longest winning streak in school history.
Hitting with Authority
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets are off to a solid start. The team is currently hitting .360 well above their opponents’ averaging of .160. In addition, Tech is averaging 18.23 kills per game, which is much higher than the opposition’s 13.19 kills per game. To date, there has been only one match this season that Tech did not hit higher than .250 for the match, which was against Nebraska on Sept. 14.
Setting up Her Teammates
In her senior season, Kele Eveland is making her presence known. The setter currently second in the nation in assists per game (14.77), which is a full assist higher than last year’s average (13.23). In Tech’s first 16 matches, Eveland has done a good job of spreading the ball around, as four players are averaging at least 2.40 kills per game and every starter is hitting above .300.
Offensive Machines
In the latest NCAA statistical rankings which were released Oct. 5, the Yellow Jackets have two players who are ranked in hitting percentage. Alexandra Preiss is eighth (.434) and Jayme Gergen is 13th in the nation at .413. It should be noted that every hitter for Tech is currently hitting above .300. As a team, the Yellow Jackets are first in the nation in hitting percentage (.360), first in kills per game (18.23) and first in the nation in assists per game (16.89).
Home, Home on the Range
Dating back to last season, the Jackets have compiled a 19 match home winning streak. The last time Tech was defeated in O’Keefe Gymnasium was last season to #11 North Carolina on Oct. 5. The school record for a home winning streak is 23, which was set from Oct. 31, 1993-Oct. 15, 1995.
Perfect Night for Preiss
Against Virginia on Oct. 4, Alexandra Preiss recorded a perfect hitting percentage (1.000) compiling 11 kills on 11 swings. That effort ties an NCAA record for hitting percentage in a single match.
Preiss Named ACC Player of the Week
Alexandra Preiss was named the ACC Player of the Week on Oct. 6 after leading the Yellow Jackets to three wins. The middle blocker posted double-digit kills in all three matches en route to averaging 4.4 kills per game, 1.6 blocks per game and 1.2 digs per game.
Against Maryland, Preiss connected on 22 kills in 43 opportunities, committing only two errors, to hit .465 for the match. Defensively, she accumulated seven blocks and seven digs to lead the Yellow Jackets passed the Terrapins, 3-1.
In Saturday’s double-header against Georgia State and Virginia, the Berlin, Germany native tallied a .677 hitting percentage including 22 kills, nine blocks and five digs.
In the match against Virginia, Preiss recorded a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage compiling 11 kills on 11 attempts to tie an NCAA record for hitting percentage in a single match.
This marks the second time in Preiss’ career she has earned Player of the Week honors and the third time this season that a Yellow Jacket has received the honor.
Grand Killer
This season a trio of Georgia Tech players could reach the 1,000 kills mark for their careers. If the trio all reach the mark this season, it would be the first time in program history for three players to join the prestigious club in the same year and the first time that three players with 1,000 or more kills were on the court at the same time.
Lynnette Moster 962 Needs 38 Alexandra Preiss 954 Needs 46 Lauren Sauer 882 Needs 118
ACC Standings as of 10/6
TEAM ACC PCT OVERALL PCT
Georgia Tech 4-0 1.000 16-0 1.000 Wake Forest 3-1 .750 13-3 .813 Maryland 3-1 .750 14-4 .778 North Carolina 3-1 .750 12-5 .706 Clemson 2-2 .500 12-7 .632 Virginia 1-3 .250 17-3 .850 Florida State 1-3 .250 9-7 .563 Duke 1-3 .250 5-11 .313 NC State 0-4 .000 6-11 .353
ACC Statistical Leaders as of 10/5
TEAM Hit Pct. Georgia Tech .360 Kills Georgia Tech 18.23 Assists Georgia Tech 16.89 Blocks Maryland 3.19 Aces Wake Forest 2.40 Digs Duke 18.40
INDIVIDUAL
Hit Pct.Alexandra Preiss, Georgia Tech .434 Kills Lynnette Moster, Georgia Tech 4.40 Assists Kele Eveland, Georgia Tech 14.77 Blocks Rachel Wagener, Maryland 1.76 Aces Valerie Rydberg, Wake Forest 0.73 Digs Whitney Ashcraft, Virginia 5.17
NCAA Statistical Rankings as of 10/5
TEAM
Assists Per Game Georgia Tech 16.89 1st Kills Per Game Georgia Tech 18.23 1st Hit Percentage Georgia Tech .360 1st W/L Percentage Georgia Tech 1.000 t-1st Avg. Attendance Georgia Tech 895 290th
INDIVIDUAL
Assists Per Game Kele Eveland 14.77 2ndHit. Percentage Alexandra Preiss .434 8th Jayme Gergen .413 13th
