THE FLATS – No. 14 Georgia Tech volleyball flew past Clemson (25-7, 25-19, 25-16) for its 12th sweep of the season, including eight over ACC foes, on Wednesday afternoon in O’Keefe Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets averaged a robust .430 hitting percentage, the second-highest clip of the season, on the way to victory. That solid efficiency for the White and Gold came thanks in large part to a first set onslaught of 19 kills at a gaudy .593 clip, which resulted in a season-high 18-point set victory.
Georgia Tech (22-5, 13-4 ACC) outmatched Clemson (12-17, 3-14 ACC) across the board on paper, coming away with healthy advantages in kills (50-28), hitting percentage (.430-.216), assists (43-23), aces (8-1) and digs (46-23).
Senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla spearheaded the Jacket attack for the second straight match as she piled up a team-high 19 kills while leading the squad defensively with 14 digs for her ninth double double this season. The Brazilian’s kill total pushed her over the career 1,500 kill mark as she’s up to 1,510 kills for the White and Gold heading into Friday’s regular season finale.
Senior middle blocker Breland Morrissette reinforced Brambilla’s effort from the middle with 10 kills for a season-high .692 hitting percentage, while freshman outside hitter Bianca Bertolino pitched in with 10 kills of her own to go with a pair of aces and nine digs. Senior setter Matti McKissock was at the center of the offense with 38 assists.
Georgia Tech has won 54 of its last 65 matches dating back to 2019. The Jackets also have won 33 of their last 38 matches on The Flats in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
Volleyball vs. Clemson
November 24, 2021 (Danny Karnik)
How it Happened
Georgia Tech exploded out of the gate, dominating Clemson by way of four large runs throughout the first set. The Yellow Jackets used a five-point burst early to take the first significant advantage leading 7-2, then followed a subsequent Clemson point with four straight points up to an 11-3 lead. One more run of four furthered Tech’s charge up to an 18-6 lead, and the Jackets finished off the set claiming the final seven points as McKissock came up with a kill to secure a 25-7 first set win for the White and Gold.
The Yellow Jackets stayed hot in the second set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead following back-to-back kills from junior middle blocker Erin Moss. Tech incrementally built on its advantage from there up to a 17-9 lead. Clemson would take the next four points to draw within four, but the Jackets responded by taking five of the next six points up to a 22-14 lead, cruising on to a 25-19 second set victory by way of a Bertolino kill.
With a sweep in sight, Tech got off to a strong start once more in the third set as an ace by Bergmann gave the Jackets their fourth straight point to open the set. The Tigers drew back within one shortly after trailing 8-7, but a four-point run fueled by back-to-back aces off the hand of senior middle blocker Kayla Kaiser pushed Tech ahead 13-7. Just one Clemson point interrupted the run as the Jackets rattled off six straight points to follow, leaping out to a 19-8 advantage. The lead proved to be insurmountable for the Tigers as Georgia Tech rolled on to a 25-16 third set victory and match sweep.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will close out the regular season on the road at Florida State (19-8, 11-6 ACC) on Friday at 6 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla. Coverage information is available here.
Multimedia
🏐𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘🏐
🆚: Clemson
⏰: 2⃣ p.m.
📍: ATL
🏟️: O'Keefe Gymnasium
🎟️: 𝙎𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙏
📺: https://t.co/457rsXrgiJ
📈: https://t.co/PgOL2c4tHZ#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/ljgg8qnpSY— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
One last *𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯* ride in O'Keefe 😤
If you couldn't get in on the sellout, you know what to do 👇
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah
📈: https://t.co/PgOL2bMSjp#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/Kd9JuCZYHO— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
Final home regular season match for @GTVolleyball! Tech hosts @ClemsonVB this afternoon in O’Keefe. Join @Keleeveland and me now! https://t.co/iZMYYntQA2 pic.twitter.com/WL0RKdV4NZ
— Wiley Ballard (@wiley_ballard) November 24, 2021
Someone should've told Clemson about Brambilla💣💥
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah pic.twitter.com/kjaO8tq2f6— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
S1 | We're scoring faster than the social media person can type😅 Another @mariibrambilla kill increases the Jacket run to 🖐️ and forces a Clemson timeout😳🔥
🐾2⃣
🐝7⃣ pic.twitter.com/zyktMM4ehC— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
S1 | Another 4⃣-point 🏃♀️ puts the Jackets up by 8⃣❕
🐾3⃣
🐝1⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/9CknCtYRm6— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
S1 | That's 4⃣ more straight points for the White and Gold, and this is a little out of control 😅 Timeout Clemson as @mariibrambilla already has 6⃣ kills 💪
🐾6⃣
🐝1⃣8⃣ pic.twitter.com/8OkxnobdFw— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
Scoreboard 😁#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/aJi6RqYFwl
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
For anyone wondering, the Jackets took the final 7⃣ straight points to take the set 🥵 https://t.co/oroOhFMRAJ
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
Dowd dropping dimes 🎯
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah pic.twitter.com/dz6jXQVdbB— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
Can't stop, won't stop @brelandtm11 😤
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah pic.twitter.com/xHDNfIBJHl— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
S2 | Update: Things are still going well 😁 The Jackets lead by 6⃣ as the Tigers need a timeout.
🐾1⃣3⃣
🐝1⃣9⃣Tech leads the match 1⃣-0⃣ pic.twitter.com/y3bBCmxPcZ
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
We're hitting over .5⃣0⃣0⃣ through the first ✌️ sets. Yes, you read that right. #TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/vC89hFhxSj
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
https://t.co/nHzn91yjXj pic.twitter.com/XUlL1MjBzv
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) November 24, 2021
A 𝘽𝙐𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙏 from Bertolino 😳
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah pic.twitter.com/rtxwFBajoZ— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
𝘽𝙖𝙖𝙖𝙘𝙠-✌️-𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 😏♠️
Tune in on @ACCNetworkExtra
📺: https://t.co/457rsXIRah pic.twitter.com/nVe4Z6Ber9— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
S3 | Tech is up to 7⃣ ♠️𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒♠️ as @mattimck_ tacks on another🎯 @mariibrambilla follows that with back-✌️-back kills as the Jackets take 🖐️ straight points to force a Clemson timeout 🔥
🐾8⃣
🐝1⃣9⃣Tech leads the match 2⃣-0⃣ pic.twitter.com/zIubkjS6lN
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
𝟭𝟮. 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡. 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗦.#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/vyD8kC64Gw
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙒𝙄𝙉 💪
After blitzing Clemson in the first set, Tech cruises on to its 1⃣2⃣th sweep on the year and 8⃣th of ACC Play 🔥 @mariibrambilla leads the way with 1⃣9⃣ kills and 1⃣4⃣ digs 👏👏 #TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/fUX5ZtVPoe
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹 https://t.co/ehLk2huQWA
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) November 24, 2021
.@gtvolleyball season in a nutshell ✈️ pic.twitter.com/zZaOAPqnav
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) November 24, 2021
🗣: @collmich on the 🎙 after the Jackets brought the brooms out for their final regular season home match 🧹🧹🧹#TogetherWeSwarm /// #PointTech pic.twitter.com/eZW7fQIBe3
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) November 24, 2021
pointed at the band after the second one because they said “do it again! do it again!” love them so much😂🤍 https://t.co/lE01rMpCrl
— kayla (@kaylaikaiser) November 24, 2021
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