TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – Georgia Tech volleyball (14-9, 6-5 ACC) began the week with a road loss, falling 3-2 to Florida State (13-10, 7-5 ACC) on Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla.
QUICK HITS:
- Alida Bennour recorded her 11th consecutive match with double-digit kills, leading Tech's offense with 22 kills on Tuesday night.
- Bennour paired her 22 kills with a career high 18 digs to earn her sixth career double-double. She is the first Yellow Jacket to record six or more double-doubles in her freshman season since Bianca Bertolino posted 10 during the 2021 campaign.
- The freshman has recorded 20+ kills in five matches this season, including twice in the last three matches. Both performances also resulted in double-doubles (33 kills, 16 digs vs. Notre Dame; 22 kills, 18 digs vs. Florida State).
- Fellow freshman Magda Kobaidze also recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 kills and 15 digs for her fifth career double-double. Her 15 digs marked a new career high, surpassing her previous best of 13 against Miami set earlier this season.
- Zoe Humphrey delivered a balanced performance, recording a career-high 12 kills while also tallying at least five blocks for the 10th time this season. Her new career high in kills surpassed her previous mark of 10, which she recorded against both Duke and No. 25 North Carolina in her first season as a Yellow Jacket.
- Humphrey also set a new career high with three digs against Florida State.
- Heloise Soares finished the match with 50 assists and 12 digs to earn her seventh double-double of the season and 20th of her career. The senior's 50 assists marked her 22nd career match with 40 or more assists and her third with 50 or more.
- Soares recorded just the second solo block of her career on Tuesday. Her only other solo block came last season at Clemson.
- The setter finished nine assists shy of tying her career high of 59, which she set against Florida State in 2023.
- Vitoria Belfort continued to find her rhythm at the service line, recording her fourth ace of the season and her fourth in the last six matches.
- Against the Seminoles, the Jackets recorded their second-most digs (69), third-most kills (63) and third-most assists (56) in a five-set match.
SET BY SET
Set 1 (GT 25 – FSU 12)
Tech put Florida State on its heels early, as the Jackets' .333 attack percentage and 14 kills in the opening set outpaced the Seminoles' .067 attack percentage and eight kills. With minimal errors and a balanced defensive effort, Tech secured the 25-12 set win. The Jackets established an 8-1 lead out of the gate, forcing Florida State to burn an early timeout. Tech held the Seminoles within no fewer than five points of the lead throughout the remainder of the set. Of the Jackets' final six points, Bennour contributed two kills and an ace, while Bieleski, Garibaldi and Soares each added a kill. Kobaidze led all hitters in the opening frame with four kills on five swings, while both Bennour and Bianca Garibaldi recorded three kills. Soares opened the match with nine of Tech's 11 assists in the set. Mana Kaneko led the defensive effort with five digs, while Bennour and Humphrey teamed up for a block.
Set 2 (GT 19 – FSU 25)
Despite improved accuracy from Florida State in the second set, the Seminoles took advantage of an increase in Tech's errors to even the match. The second frame began with the Jackets trailing 8-4, prompting an early timeout. Tech worked its way back to bring the set within one point (9-8), but Florida State responded with a 9-4 run to extend its lead to six (18-12). Coming out of their timeout, the Jackets pieced together four points while allowing just one, cutting the deficit to three and forcing a Florida State timeout. The Seminoles ultimately secured the 25-19 set win to even the match at one set apiece. Bennour led Tech offensively with three kills, while Garibaldi and Kobaidze added two apiece. On the defensive end, Bennour led all players with a match-high seven digs in the frame. Soares accounted for all nine of Tech's assists in the set.
Set 3 (GT 25 – FSU 21)
The third set brought a more competitive frame, with Tech establishing a lead and maintaining its advantage through the media timeout (15-12). The Jackets created separation by outscoring the Seminoles 5-1, with three of those points coming from Florida State errors. Tech extended its lead to four points after the Seminoles called their first timeout of the set in an attempt to halt the Jackets' momentum (19-15). Florida State fought back to bring the frame within one (20-19), prompting Tech to take its first timeout. Coming out of the break, the Jackets regained their offensive momentum, forcing another Florida State timeout. Tech later used another timeout before closing out the set with kills from Bennour and Humphrey. Bennour recorded her strongest set of the match, accounting for nine of Tech's 13 kills while hitting .615. Soares added another eight assists to her match total. Kobaidze contributed four digs, while Soares and Kaneko added three apiece.
Set 4 (GT 23 – FSU 25)
Tech came up just short of closing out the match in the fourth set, as Florida State secured a 25-23 win to extend the contest. The Seminoles established an early lead, and while Tech managed to tie the score six times throughout the frame, the Jackets were unable to complete the comeback. An increase in both attack and service errors hurt Tech, while Florida State improved its attack percentage and recorded more blocks. Bennour led all hitters for the second consecutive set with six kills in the frame, while Humphrey added four. Soares improved her production in the fourth set, recording 13 assists and a team-high six digs. Kobaidze took on the bulk of the receiving responsibilities, handling nine serve receptions with a perfect 1.000 reception percentage while adding five digs.
Set 5 (GT 19 – FSU 21)
The final frame featured Tech's longest fifth set of the season, with the Jackets holding seven match points (14-13, 15-14, 16-15, 17-16, 18-17, 19-18 and 20-19). Tech opened the set by grinding out a two-point lead (6-4) before Florida State responded with a 7-2 run, prompting a Jackets timeout (11-8). Coming out of the break, Tech put together a five-point run, with the Seminoles using a timeout to try to slow the momentum. Despite the late push, Florida State rallied to score the final three points and secure the 21-19 set win. Humphrey led Tech in the final frame with five kills on a perfect 1.000 attack percentage. Soares recorded double-digit assists for the second consecutive set, accounting for all 11 of Tech's assists in the fifth. Kobaidze added four digs, while Bennour contributed to all three of Tech's blocks. Humphrey teamed up with the freshman for two blocks, while Garibaldi joined Bennour for the other.
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets return home to host NC State on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. and Wake Forest on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in O'Keefe Gymnasium. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.
Single-Match Tickets
Single-match tickets are now on sale, with prices for the 15-match home schedule starting at just $10. Youth pricing and group discounts (10 or more tickets purchased in a single transaction) are also available. Youth pricing is not available online.
To purchase, click here.
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative designed 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 to 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.