How it Happened
Georgia Tech (13-4, 6-2 ACC) rolled through the first set, jumping ahead early with a five-point run to take an 8-4 lead. The Yellow Jackets doubled up the Blue Devils (10-8, 1-6 ACC) soon after, taking six points in a seven-point span to move ahead 16-8. Tech closed out the set claiming five of the final six points, resulting in a double-digit victory in set one, 25-15.
The White and Gold once again got going early in the second set, using a four-point run to move up to a 7-3 lead. After three more consecutive points put the Jackets up, 10-5, Duke clawed back to draw within a point. Tech took control from there, earning nine of the next 11 points to put the set out of reach with a 19-11 advantage. The Jackets nearly reached another double-digit victory, concluding the set on a kill by graduate middle blocker Breland Morrissette for a 25-16 win in set two.
Duke rallied in the third set, answering the first two sets with six straight points to slip in front early, 8-3. Georgia Tech would answer by stringing together five points of its own to follow, cutting the Blue Devil lead to one at 11-10. Despite the comeback, Duke responded with a four-point run to separate back out to a 15-10 lead. The Jackets wouldn’t go away though, continuing to chip away by taking 10 of the next 12 points, including runs of three and five apiece, jolting ahead 20-17 for their first lead since a 3-2 score line. Tech would reach match point with a 24-22 advantage, but the Blue Devils won the next two points to knot things up. The Yellow Jackets would work their way up to three more match points with one-point leads at 25, 26 and 27, but Duke survived each and turned the tables for its own set point with a 28-27 lead. Georgia Tech evened the tally at 28 all, but the Blue Devils claimed the next two points for a 30-28 set three victory.
The White and Gold got back on track to start off the fourth set, taking eight of nine early points to speed out to an 8-3 lead. The Jackets would keep their distance up to a 12-7 lead, but Duke closed the gap from there to even things up at 13 apiece. After the two sides each took a point, Tech came away with six points in a seven-chance span to create separation for a 20-15 lead. The Blue Devils went back to chipping away at the lead and drew as close as within two, but a Morrissette kill in the middle sealed a 25-22 triumph in set four, resulting in a 3-1 win for the Jackets.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will return home to host Boston College (13-7, 1-5 ACC) on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and Syracuse (8-8, 4-2 ACC) on Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium. Both contests will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
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The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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