SET BY SET
Set 1 (GT 25 – UNC 23)
Set one was all Tech as the Yellow Jackets took an early four-point lead and forced North Carolina to take an early timeout (10-6). Despite the Tar Heels scoring the first two points coming out of the timeout, the Jackets were able to re-establish their four-point lead heading into the media timeout (15-11). North Carolina went on to stack five points to take its first lead of the match (18-17), before Tech responded with a three-point run to reclaim the lead (20-18). After the Tar Heels tied the opening frame at 20-20, both teams exchanged points, but it was the Jackets who did just enough to secure the 25-23 set-one win.
Bianca Garibaldi was exceptional on offense for Tech, recording five kills on five swings, while Kobaidze added three and Humphrey, Bieleski and Simone Heard each recorded three. Soares shared the setting duties with Sasha Godey, with the senior accounting for half of Tech’s assists and the freshman recording five. Humphrey was a force at the net, recording one solo block and two block assists.
Set 2 (GT 25 – UNC 22)
Similar to set one, Tech once again jumped out in front, this time establishing a five-point lead before North Carolina called a timeout (10-5). The Jackets went on to build their largest lead of the set at nine points (19-10) before the Tar Heels pieced together a four-point run, even through a Tech timeout. Tech responded by outscoring North Carolina, 5-2, to reach set point. However, the Tar Heels fought to stack another six points before Kobaidze closed the set with one final kill.
Humphrey was a key piece in Tech’s set-two win, leading the group across the board with five kills on seven swings, one assist and one solo block. Bennour supported Humphrey’s offensive efforts with four kills, as well as one ace and three digs.
Set 3 (GT 26 – UNC 28)
The Jackets used the momentum from their two-set lead to pull five points ahead of the Tar Heels before the anticipated North Carolina timeout (8-3). North Carolina responded with a seven-point run to take a 14-13 lead. Both teams then exchanged points, with neither getting more than one point of separation, until Tech went on a four-point run to take a 23-19 lead.
Despite Tech reaching set point and even appearing to have secured the set, a late successful North Carolina challenge was enough to keep the set alive and allow the Tar Heels to take the 28-26 set win. Bieleski saw her best set of the match with five kills, while Bennour (3), Kobaidze (3) and Humphrey (2) supported her offensive push. Soares added another 12 assists, accounting for 86% of Tech’s set-three assists.
On defense, the Jackets recorded six blocks, with Soares having a hand in three, Humphrey contributing to two and adding one solo block.
Set 4 (GT 22 – UNC 25)
The Jackets struggled to find their rhythm following the unconventional finish to set three, as the Tar Heels forced Tech to trail by seven through its first timeout (18-11). Following the Yellow Jackets’ timeout, Tech was able to bring the match within three points before North Carolina took a timeout of its own.
Despite outscoring the hosting Tar Heels, 5-4, and forcing yet another North Carolina timeout, Tech went on to fall, 25-22, in set four. Bennour came alive in the fourth frame, recording six kills on 12 swings with no errors, along with one assist and one solo block. Bieleski and Garibaldi teamed up to record two blocks each, while Bennour and Humphrey added one solo block apiece.
Set 5 (GT 11 – UNC 15)
In the final frame, Tech and North Carolina began by exchanging points before the Tar Heels outscored the Jackets, 7-1, forcing the visiting Jackets to burn both of their timeouts. Despite trailing 9-3 in the deciding set, Tech continued to fight, bringing the set within two points (10-8) before the Tar Heels responded with another five points while holding the Jackets to just three, resulting in the 15-11 finish.
Bieleski finished the match with three final kills on five swings, while Bennour and Kobaidze recorded a pair of kills each. Humphrey’s final frame included one final kill and two blocks, one of which was another solo block.
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets will remain on the road this time headed south to take on Florida State Friday Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. and Miami Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.
2026 McCamish Matches
Tech volleyball’s annual McCamish Match is set to return with twice the action as the Yellow Jackets will take on No. 2 Pitt and No. 5 SMU. Tickets are priced as follows for the ranked matches:
Pitt - $23
SMU - $20
Group rate - $18 for Pitt | $15 for SMU
McCamish Pack (includes tickets to both matches) - $32
Tickets for the McCamish Matches can be purchased here.
Single Match Tickets
Single match tickets are now on sale with tickets prices for the 15-match home schedule start at just $10.00 with youth pricing and group discounts (10+ in a single transaction) available (youth pricing not available online).
To purchase, click here.
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
