Collier Takes Program Title in ACC Wins over Virginia TechCollier Takes Program Title in ACC Wins over Virginia Tech
Volleyball

Collier Takes Program Title in ACC Wins over Virginia Tech

Coach Michelle Collier earned her 101st conference victory with a sweep of the Hokies

BLACKSBURG, Va. — No. 11 Georgia Tech volleyball blew by Virginia Tech for its seventh sweep of the season and first of conference play on Friday in Cassell Coliseum, resulting in coach Michelle Collier‘s 101st ACC win to become the program leader on The Flats. The Yellow Jackets (12-1, 3-0 ACC) outscored the Hokies (10-4, 0-3 ACC) by 20 in the first two sets combined on the way to the 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-21) triumph.

The White and Gold were dominant in all phases, leading the way with ease in kills (48-28), hitting percentage (.353-.198), assists (42-28) and aces (11-2).

Senior outside hitter Tamara Otene turned in the most well-rounded performance on the day with eight kills and a team-leading 12 digs. Freshman right side hitter Larissa Mendes fronted the attack, tallying 12 kills at a .440 clip. Sophomore middle blocker Liv Mogridge followed close behind with eight kills at a .467 rate, and junior middle blocker DeAndra Pierce picked up six kills of her own on a .417 hitting percentage. Senior setter Bella D’Amico led the squad with 21 assists, and freshman setter Heloise Soares came away with a career-high 13 assists.

No. 11 Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech

September 29. 2023 (Tyler Rover)

How it Happened

Tech used a pair of five-point runs to take control in the first set, speeding ahead 11-6 early thanks in large part to back-to-back aces by senior libero Paola Pimentel and widening the gap soon after for a 16-9 advantage. The Jackets closed out the set by claiming the final four points as graduate middle blocker Afedo Manyang slammed the door with a kill for the 25-16 set one win.

The White and Gold rolled on into the second set, winning the first five points as junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino strung together four during the stretch with three aces and a kill. Virginia Tech maintained within striking distance until yet another burst of five, including a pair of Mogridge aces, propelled the Yellow Jackets to a 19-9 lead. Once again, Georgia Tech cruised onto a set victory on a final swing of Manyang, closing out set two, 25-14.

The third set was neck-and-neck nearly throughout as neither side could separate by more than two early. The Yellow Jackets began to pull away by picking up three straight, moving ahead, 18-14. Another flurry of three gave Tech some breathing room, pushing further in front, 23-17. The Hokies would make a last-ditch effort, but the White and Gold held on to close out the set, 25-21, securing the match sweep.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will wrap up the weekend at Wake Forest (11-3, 2-1 ACC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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