THE FLATS – No. 13 Georgia Tech volleyball fell 3-1 to No. 3 Pitt (25-17, 22-25,23-25, 21-25) on Friday evening in O’Keefe Gymnasium, giving the Panthers all they could handle and besting them nearly across the board on paper. The Yellow Jackets stormed ahead taking the first set before getting edged by no more than four points in each of the final three sets.
Senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla’s stellar night fueled the Jackets throughout the match as she piled up a season-high 24 kills to go with 16 digs for her eighth double double of the year. Senior setter Matti McKissock had a solid outing all around, setting up Tech’s attack for 50 assists while adding five block assists on the defensive end. Freshman outside hitter Bianca Bertolino and senior middle blocker Breland Morrissette were at the forefront of the White and Gold’s defensive efforts as Bertolino led the team with 16 digs while Morrissette tallied a team-high six block assists.
Despite the outcome, Georgia Tech (21-5, 12-4 ACC) held the advantage over Pitt (25-2, 14-2 ACC) in nearly every major statistical category including kills (58-55), hitting percentage (.259-.255), assists (57-51), aces (4-3) digs (61-56) and blocks (10-8).
Volleyball vs. No. 3 Pitt
November 19, 2021 (Danny Karnik)
How it Happened
Georgia Tech came out of the gates at a blistering pace, racing ahead 4-1 in the first set. The Panthers would claw their way back to temporarily even things up at 6 all and 8 apiece, but the Jackets responded with a five-point run to leap back in front 13-8. Tech maintained control for the duration of the set, using two bursts of three to push further ahead up to a 19-12 lead and later a 24-16 advantage. Brambilla next earned her fifth kill of the set, securing a 25-17 first set triumph for Tech.
Pitt bounced back in the second set, incrementally building up a 10-5 lead. The Panthers managed to preserve a lead of three or more until the Yellow Jackets landed three straight points to cut Pitt’s advantage to 21-19. Tech answered each Panther point with one of its own from there to threaten extending the set to extra points trailing 24-22, but Pitt picked up the final kill for a 25-22 second set win.
The third set was neck-and-neck all the way through as neither side could separate by more than two points throughout the set’s entirety. As the match saw 20 tie score lines up to a 22 all deadlock, Pitt broke away at the end, taking three of the final four points for a 25-23 third set victory.
The Panthers were the first squad to get hot in the fourth set, using a four-point run to slide ahead 11-8. The Jackets would draw back within two eight different times up to a 20-18 Pitt lead, but a three-point swing by the Panthers to follow would give Pitt enough breathing room to roll on to a 25-21 fourth set win and match victory.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will close out the regular season with matches on both sides of Thanksgiving Day, first hosting Clemson before the season finale at Florida State. The Yellow Jackets will first take on the Tigers on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium, then wrap up regular season play with the finale against the Seminoles on Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla. Coverage information will be provided here.
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🏐𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘🏐
🆚: #⃣3⃣ Pitt
⏰: 4⃣ p.m.
📍: ATL
🏟️: O'Keefe Gymnasium
🎟️: 𝙎𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙏
📺: @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwUbnU
📈: https://t.co/rcW5s9vgcQ#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/U1zgKi3HsN— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
#⃣3⃣ Pitt is in our 🏠 for a rematch. Time to protect O'Keefe 😤
You know the deal 👇
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwUbnU
📈: https://t.co/rcW5s9vgcQ#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/8tnUnpOdKK— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
The 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 🤭 ⏩ the 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 🤯@mariibrambilla (yes, Mari) 𝘿𝙀𝙉𝙄𝙀𝙎 Pitt with a solo block for Tech's 4⃣th straight point 🔥🔥
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/kfhQF18vU1— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S1 | @kaylaikaiser shoots a 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐑 past the Panthers for an ♠️𝐀𝐂𝐄♠️ to cap a 3⃣-point Jacket 🏃♀️ Timeout Pitt❕
😾8⃣
🐝1⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/yaYqvzzdH2— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣' 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣'𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚🎶
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/YEQ65ifzHc— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S1 | @erinmoss0428 𝕊𝕄𝕆𝕂𝔼𝕊 one from the middle to put the Jackets within striking distance of taking the first set 👀🔥
😾1⃣6⃣
🐝2⃣3⃣ pic.twitter.com/VA9d3uCA8P— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
Starting off 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚💪Keep. pushing.#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/rD3LNjjXmF
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
𝙶𝚁𝙸𝚃𝚃𝚈 😤#NCAAVB x 🎥 @GTVolleyball pic.twitter.com/4iqfklwQAp
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) November 19, 2021
Brambilla 💣💥, anyone❔
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/1SugiaZu4A— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S2 | 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 🔥🔥 Tech takes 4⃣ of the last 5⃣ points to force a Pitt timeout❕
😾1⃣5⃣
🐝1⃣2⃣Tech leads the match 1⃣-0⃣ pic.twitter.com/rSWyDMX2LI
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
We get it, Pitt. We wouldn't be ready for a @mariibrambilla tip either 🤷♀️
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/we2cgGpA3l— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
We expected a slugfest, and we've got one. All square after ✌️#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/T4tqtaVwNd
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
.@kaylaikaiser showing off the 𝘾𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙉 😳🔥 That's another ♠️𝐀𝐂𝐄♠️ for her as the Jackets lead❕
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/UYSuhLAFKe— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
Don't 😴 on our middles
📺: Tune in on @accnetwork
💻: https://t.co/l7QmUwCzZk pic.twitter.com/lkTLJacFfC— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S3 | @brelandtm11 𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦 one home to even things up❕🔨
😾1⃣8⃣
🐝1⃣8⃣The match is tied 1⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/BCAVCWbmzJ
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S3 | It's that time again 😬🍿
😾2⃣2⃣
🐝2⃣2⃣The match is tied 1⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/6ZKJWNdYke
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S3 | @BiancaBertolin0 with the kill 💪 We're not going down without a fight 😤 Timeout Pitt.
😾2⃣4⃣
🐝2⃣3⃣The match is tied 1⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/Q1KMVnk1kE
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
Pitt escapes the third set on top, but plenty of volleyball left to play.#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/9jR7Nxe9FZ
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S4 | @erinmoss0428 is out here racking up solo blocks for the lolz😅
😾3⃣
🐝4⃣Pitt leads the match 2⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/7JMZXpqbhS
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S4 | @mariibrambilla is absolute 🔥🔥🔥 rn🤭 𝘼𝙉𝙊𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 kill moves her up to 2⃣2⃣ kills 𝘼𝙉𝘿 1⃣6⃣ digs🤩
😾1⃣4⃣
🐝1⃣2⃣Pitt leads the match 2⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/OsCn7iDgxI
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
In other words, @mariibrambilla currently pic.twitter.com/KUnUlEDygX
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S4 | Julia and @brelandtm11 go back-✌️-back with kills for the Jackets to trim the Panther lead 👏👏 Timeout Pitt❕
😾1⃣7⃣
🐝1⃣5⃣Pitt leads the match 2⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/AYZzcEyoi9
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
S4 | 𝗧𝗢𝗢. 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚. 💪 @mariibrambilla swings straight through the Panther block for her 2⃣4⃣th kill of the match, a 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝❕🤩
😾2⃣3⃣
🐝1⃣9⃣Pitt leads the match 2⃣-1⃣ pic.twitter.com/FLom5f1rpW
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
Tech pushes #3 Pitt to the brink, but the Panthers escape with a win. The Jackets will be back in O'Keefe to host the home regular season finale against Clemson next Wednesday afternoon.#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/cxpcO9Vnn2
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 19, 2021
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